Eco-Features
CROSS VENTILATION – SOLAR POWER & SOLAR WATER HEATING
WATER MANAGEMENT – ECO TOILETS – COMPOSTING
FUEL CONSERVATION – EGG PRODUCTIONS – TREE PLANTING – KST
TURTLE CONSERVATION
Cross Ventilation
The large open plan design of bandas, with shaded windows and the reuse of natural materials allows for optimal cross ventilation. This ensures the rooms remain cool even on the hottest days.
Solar Power & Solar Water Heating
Each banda has its own 12V solar power. Electricity is generated by a 50W photovoltaic panel supplying six low energy D.C. lights. The hot water in the banda's are also heated by the solar power.
Water Management
Water supply is from a fragile fresh water lens floating on a layer of salt water. To protect the lens from over pumping, our water is extracted from wells equipped with float switches. Water is then collected in header tanks before being gravity feed to the bandas. All water is metered and recorded.
Waste water from showers, basins and the kitchen, excluding oil and fat, is collected daily and recycled in the garden.
Eco Toilets
Bandas are equipped with flushing ‘eco-loos’ that use 1 liter of water per flush. This has reduced our water consumption dramatically. After experimenting with a composting loo, we will be introducing them to the staff bandas over the next two seasons.
Composting
Kitchen waste is mixed with chicken manure and bedding then composted for use in the kitchen herb and salad garden.
Plastic waste is incinerated at over 800ºC, breaking down the organic constituents of plastic into carbon dioxide and water.
Fuel Consumption
We have purchased our first four stroke boat engine and plan to reduce our two existing engines. It is estimated that this should reduce our petrol consumption by 50%.
Egg Production
We have 250 layers producing organic eggs. Eggs surplus to our requirements are sold to other lodges on the island.
Tree Planting
Annually we plant almost 1000 indigenous trees and scrubs to stabilize the sand dunes. Other exotics, 500 cassarina and 200 coconuts trees are also planted ensuring self-sufficiency in fire wood, staff cooking and bread making.
On the main land we purchased land and planted out 50,000 cassarina and eucalyptus trees over the last four years. The trees from this year will supply Kizingo with building poles as well, and the surplus will be harvested for sale. Money from this goes into the staff pension fund.
Kipungani School Trust (KST)
Through the KST we have now completed the rebuilding of 14 schools in partnership with the local communities. Purchasing local materials and using the local tradesman to ensure most of the money is recycled where it is most needed.
KST also supports 21 teachers and scholarships to senior school for some 60 children. All the KST schools have a relationship with staff from Kizingo.
Turtle Conservation
Through the Lamu marine conservation project we monitor any green turtle nesting sites. We also tag and release turtles caught in fishing nets.
