https://archive.md/24mBj
"It takes three hours of hiking along rock stairs and muddy walkways to reach
Boluo Temple in the Chinese city of Dali, where by some accounts monks have
lived since as early as the Tang Dynasty. For more than a thousand years,
devout inhabitants have practiced their beliefs from the prayer hall near the
mountain peak, collected water from snow melts and sourced nearly all of their
heating needs by burning fallen branches. At least until recently.
In just the past few years, the centuries-old temple for the first time gained
access to electricity — not from the country’s grid, but thanks to solar panels
installed in its backyard. “We never bought electric appliances before, and
cooked and boiled water using firewood,” said Ming Jing, a 32-year-old junior
monk at the temple. “This is a great improvement of convenience for our lives
here.”
China has spent billions of dollars on connecting its entire population —
including the most rural villages — to its mega grid system. However, in
far-flung locations where grid access isn’t possible, solar panels have become
the only choice for electricity.
With 10 panels connected to a battery box the size of a medium checked-luggage
bag, the system at Boluo Temple provides power for the lives of Ming Jing and
the head monk, as well as a ginger cat named Flower. They now own a few small
electronic devices, namely a water boiler, induction cooker and a space heater.
During the winter, temperatures can plunge below 0C in the mountain monastery,
located about 2,700 meters above sea level, making nights especially tough to
bear. “Without a heating pad, lying into the blanket was like lying on ice,”
Ming Jing said. Now, solar panels provide enough electricity to keep the
electric blanket running for six to seven hours per night — if the preceding
day was particularly sunny."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/goodnews-water-vietnam-stunting-indonesia-conservation-ecuador/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
