Sun powers Tswalu into the future
August 5th, 2009 by H&R | Categories: environmental, hotels, technology, tourism
The reserve now bottles its own underground water and has made strides in the use of sunshine to create electricity and power kitchen equipment.
In June Tswalu purchased Sun Stoves, Heat Retainers and a Parabolic Sun Fire Cooker for its kitchens.
The Kalahari has almost 365 days of sunshine each year, so it makes sense to use this free, clean energy source as much as possible.
The Sun Stoves are lightweight and easy to maintain and use. On the first day of cooking the weather was cold, but the kitchen team cooked meals, baked breads and made desserts. The Sun Stoves cannot burn food so they will be used as much as possible for bush dining meals, boma dinners and sleepouts.
Besides doing most of the guest catering with solar cookers, Tswalu aims to have most of its staff using solar cookers throughout the reserve. Solar power is already used extensively in the new staff housing on Tswalu.
Solar power is also used for electric fencing, pumps, geysers and some lighting.
Instead of being delivered from Johannesburg, water is now bottled at Tswalu after being filtered through a Classic Crystal water system that was installed in May. A seven-stage process that filters the water without stripping it of calcium and magnesium minerals ensures fresh sparkling and still water.
