Green in Guate

I’ve held off adding this page for long enough.  I’m a conservative, and a for-profit free-market guy at that, so green stuff has never been a priority for me.  Moving to Guatemala was motivated by a desire for adventure, something different, and a break after years of 60 hour work weeks, cocktail parties and the roller coaster of being a serial entrepreneur.

However, between the absurd prices for energy, the horrible environmental practices in this country, and something in my blood that just won’t let me stay away from business opportunity (which is abundant here as it once was in the ‘Wild West’), I’m jumping into Green stuff with both feet.  As with everything else I’ve written on this blog, I’m going to share my experiences with you with brutal honesty.  I don’t have time for platitudes (and neither should you).

First up:  electricity.  The electric grid here is unstable and lacks redundancy.  Electricity is expensive as well, and many people cannot afford electricity.  We’re looking at low speed wind turbines, particularly VAWTs.  Solar cells are a close second.  Developing renewable and affordable local solutions offers tremendous opportunity.

Second:  water.  The water here is awful.  It’s so bad you have to be careful how you wash your dishes here, or you might get sick.  However, there are some innovative and affordable local alternatives which we’re exploring.  Significant numbers of the local population cannot afford pure water and as a result are plagued by chronic health problems.  Expanding access to proven methods for purifying the water offers great rewards.

Third:  fuel.  Tops on my complaint list about this country is the horrific pollution from trucks and automobiles.  If you’re here for any length of time, you’ll learn to carry a handkerchief for the inevitable low-hanging cloud of exhaust.  The means to overcome this and to do so in a way that is effective and financially viable are already available.

If you’re interested in this stuff, drop me an email at mark AT guateliving DOT com  I may put a newsletter of some sort together and I welcome your comments.