Yet, in Phuket, despite having an abundance of the most essential life elements readily available – sunshine, rain and wind – the island’s caretakers continue to struggle to ensure a sustainable, consistent and reliable supply of basic utilities.
Energy Enlightened
You may have noticed a few social media memes in recent months highlighting the leaps that Western countries such as the US, Canada, Scotland, Denmark and Germany, among others, are starting to make in regards to renewable energy infrastructure.
Yet the local fat fossil fuel order is clinging on to the status quo firmly, insisting that increasing if not perpetuating dependency on coal, oil and garbage combustion is the only way to sustain growing energy demands in Southern Thailand.
This is the primary reason why they’ve justified investing tax revenue in a coal power plant and seaport in Krabi – to ensure you and I have adequate energy in the coming decade.
But as more and more people see the light and logic, and realise that renewable abundant energy sources such as the sun simply make more sense – environmentally and economically – the future begins to illuminate, literally, slowly albeit surely.
Despite political shortcomings and ulterior motives, there is nothing stopping common folk like you and me from initiating Phuket’s sustainable transition, if not to save the world and all of Phuket, but simply to save ourselves.
Indeed, domestic solar energy supplies and equipment are already widely and cheaply available on the island, and making the transition, even if only partially, is more cost-effective and practical than ever before, whether your aim is to supply all your home’s lighting, cooling, gardening and/or entertainment needs, or simply to charge your smart phone.
In the next part, we’ll explain how to calculate and consolidate your personal/domestic energy needs in preparation for establishing your very own micro power station. Watch this space.