5 Ways the Caribbean Uses Green Power

A small stream in the middle of tropical forest in Dominica
offers fine drinking water for passing drivers.

While travelling and working in the Caribbean, we are always impressed with many ways Caribbean region embraced "green technologies". While here in Western world it is rather a talk of the future and a big business with solutions available mostly for rich people (therefore defying its purpose), the Caribbean, being rather a poor region - uses "green energy" everyday, because it is convenient, inexpensive - and simply better.
Today, I invited a guest blogger and expert to tell us a bit more. Hope you enjoy. So, here is Shelly Mirriam, until next time, cheers!

Derek
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In the United States and other parts of the world, there is always the debate of when and how the switch to green energy will come. But did you know that the Caribbean is already using it on a large scale? To prove it, we have gathered five ways the Caribbean is using green power.

1. Solar water heaters – In the tech world, there is a debate between traditional tank water heaters and tankless. There is even a huge push in the United States to use the more environmentally sound tankless kind. But did you know that there is such a thing as solar water heaters? Because people in the Caribbean have low incomes and limited access to electricity, they often rely on solar heaters. Barbados itself is said to have 32,000 solar water heaters and the second highest per capita usage of them in the world.
2. Water recycling – In other countries, rain water is left to run where it falls. However, in the Caribbean this water is often harnessed, stored, and reused. Often referred to as rainwater harvesting or water catchment in the U.S., it is simply known as collecting rain water to be used in gardening, washing, etc. in the Caribbean.
3. Hydroelectric power – In addition to recycling, did you also know that water can also create electricity? This is called hydroelectricity and is best known in dams such as the Hoover Dam. However, streams, rivers, lakes, etc. can also produce hydroelectricity. So much so, that in the Caribbean and Central America, it’s production has tripled from 1980 to 2006. There is even a large use of waterfall energy in the island of Dominica.
4. Geothermal – Often the topic of science fiction, geothermal energy is harvested by drilling into the Earth, both a potentially rewarding and dangerous source of energy. But there is already a plant in Guadalupe that has been in operation since 1984. There are even plans to get the benefits of building similar plants in Dominica, St. Lucia, and Montserrat.
5. Wind energy – With so many beaches and so much natural wind, it makes sense to have wind energy in the Caribbean. A company from the Netherlands felt the same way and installed the first windmill in the region at a hotel/resort in Grenada. Similar plans for future ones are also in the works.

Shelly Mirriam is a science student and also writes for Masters inEnvironmental Science which helps students find the right environmental science degree.

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