Give someone a fishing rod and they eat for a lifetime. Give someone incomplete instructions for building a rod and they might never see a fish. There have been numerous studies in Bitung, North Sulawesi, that have made recommendations around how to implement a low-carbon approach, but “little has been achieved,” says Dr Ariel Liebman […]
Sustainable policy
Smarter electrification: providing energy isn’t enough
Four years ago life in Pulau Bau, a village on a tiny island off North Maluku in Indonesia, was transformed. The community was supplied with electricity via small-scale diesel generators and a state-of-the-art solar energy system with battery backup. Every house was receiving some electricity—not a lot, but some. But early in 2017 the system […]
The cyclic nature of innovation: looking to tradition to design the coolest and most efficient tropical houses
Traditional buildings in Indonesia make use of ‘passive’ cooling techniques. Being well ventilated, raised off the ground, and with shady verandas, their design allows them to stay cool in a tropical climate without air conditioning. The classic timber ‘Queenslander’ house also follows a similar design. Now architects and engineers from both countries are getting together […]
Designing the coolest and most efficient tropical houses
Traditional buildings in Indonesia make use of ‘passive’ cooling techniques. Being well ventilated, raised off the ground, and with shady verandas, their design allows them to stay cool in a tropical climate without air conditioning. The classic timber ‘Queenslander’ house also follows a similar design. Now architects and engineers from both countries are getting together […]