AN ECO-CONSCIOUS
COMMUNITY
TheSustainabilityInstitute(SI),LynedochEcoVillageandLynedoch
Development(a non-profitpropertydevelopmentcompany)were
foundedbyEveAnneckeandMarkSwillingin 1999.TheSI,nowan
internationallivingandlearningcentrefocusedonpositivesocial
impactandecologicalrestoration,assistedwithraisingcapitalto
buildthevillageinfrastructure.
“Overtheyears,thehomeowner’sassociationof LynedochEco
Villagehasbecomeindependentandit nowmanagestheday-to-day
runningof thevillage,buttheinstitutestillsharesresponsibilityfor
wastemanagementandwater-systemmanagement.It alsotakes
careof thefoodgardenandgeneralgroundsmaintenance,”says
AmeliaPretorius,theSI’scommunicationsofficer.JoEngelbrecht,whoservesontheLynedoch
homeowner’sassociationcommitteeandmanages
municipalandenvironmentalmatters, explains how
thecommunity’secofriendlysystemsoperate:[RECLAIMEDWATER]
Two filtering systems are inplaceto reclaim grey andblackwater
from basinsandtoilets inthehomes:there isoneseptic tank for
every two homesto collect toilet waste whichgets pumpedto an
Aerobic Baffle Reactor (ABR)andthento awetland inthevillage
populatedwithvegetationthat actsasanatural bio-filter system.
Thewetland isalsofitted withanOxygen NanoBubblerthat adds
oxygen into thewaste before itenters thearea; thishelps break down
thebacteria inthewaste. Apumpat theendofthewetland then
pumps thefiltered water backto thehomesfor re-use intoilets and
garden irrigation.
Storm water iscaptured by canals around thevillage that channelitto
theRietvlei Dam.[WASTE]
Waste issorted ineachhome;residents are encouragedto separate
recyclablesandlandfillwaste, whichiscollected weekly by Joandhis
team. Thewaste istaken to awaste centre inthevillage where further
sortingtakes place.
Alocal pigfarmer collects food waste for hispigsonceaweek andthe
SustainabilityInstitute’spermaculturefood garden alsousesfood waste
for composting.[POWER]
Each homeisfitted withasolargeyser, rather thananelectricgeyser
whichcan account for between 40and60percent ofahome’s electricity
bill.Eskom iscurrently utilisingtheLynedochresidentialhomesfor apilot
project, whereby 26houseshave beenfitted withasolarphotovoltaic
(PV) system whichconsists ofsolarpanelsontheroof, batteries inabox
ontheground, andasmartmeter.
Whilethehomesdohave accessto municipalpower, thesystem
provides alimited amount ofelectricityandwhenthebattery power runs
out,onlythendoesthesystem switch over to receive municipalpower.
Theaimisto create aminienergy gridwhereby users inthevillage willbe
ableto trade excess electricitygeneratedfrom thesun,incentivising
mindfulusage whichwillresult inlower rates.eco home
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Fabric Centre 021 851 5086, thefabriccentre.co.za JB Architecture 084 909 0202
Lotters Pine Furniture 021 850 8420, lotterspine.com
MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Mungo 021 201 2374, mungo.co.za
Odds and Ends 021 851 8267, facebook.com/oddsandendsantiquefurniture