Asvam Peque
Sowing Communities of Territories, Waters and Autonomies, Setaa
Colombia, Antioquia, Peque
2019
Technology:
Transition Areas
Fair Energetics
- Alternative energy supply
- Changing patterns of use and consumption
- Integration of different energy uses
- Energy access for local communities
When the woman of the household was introduced to the world of alternative energies, she never imagined that she could produce her own gas and when faced with the possibility of building a biodigester to do so, she was excited about the possibility of having pigs. Initially, a rock biodigester was to be built with a collective functionality, however, it was not possible to find a site to which everyone could have access.
Finally, it was decided to build a sausage-type biodigester in a community (children, young people, adults, seniors) on a plot of land that would serve as an example for the rest of the people to replicate it in their homes.
The people in the organization did not believe that they could really get out of continuing to buy the gas pipette, much less that this was possible through the pig manure. When the gas was produced, it was very exciting for the family that was implementing it, but it also had a great impact on the community that decided to support another implementation within a few days.
Technical characteristics of the proposal
PVC pipes, hose, plastic sausage type 8mts, joints that join galvanized pipes, keys, 5 pigs.
Productive, community, environmental, or economic processes or activities that were positively impacted by the implementation of the community experience of TEJ.
The community energy experience is related to pig farming, beans, corn, avocado, lemons, oranges, mangoes and coffee. It also allows the production of fertilizers for the self-consumption garden, which includes carrots, cabbage, onion, tomato, lettuce, cilantro, ahuyama, celery, mint, lemongrass).
This proposal allows for food autonomy, however, this has been affected since the construction of Hidroituango, since its construction generated various impacts such as climate change, which directly affects agriculture.
Beneficiaries of the experience
1 family consisting of: 1 man, 1 woman and 1 child
Achievements and problems encountered during implementation
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Conservation of the environment because it is no longer deforested for the production of wood for cooking.
- Promotion of other forms of energy production with people from the community.
- Strengthening of the local economy and reduction of dependency on gas purchases
- Acquisition of technical knowledge in the communities who learned how to build and maintain the technology.
PROBLEMS:
- The plastic broke and the biodigester had to be rebuilt from scratch; however, with the knowledge acquired previously as a group, the community was able to build it again.
- It was identified that the hose can sweat (produce water) due to the heat, which causes the gas not to pass; after several tests, the community learned that when this happens, it was necessary to pour cold water on the hose and then it would work again.
Women’s participation in the TEJ community experience
The women of the association have been the ones who have promoted the construction of biodigesters in their homes and have participated in the entire training process.
Impact of the community experience of TEJ on public policy
The municipal council was very interested and surprised to see the experience working; therefore, the organization is encouraging this institution to support the installation of more biodigesters.