A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Sources of Energy Rekha & Sudhir Puranik Foundation, U.S. and India
Rekha & Sudhir Puranik Foundation The philanthropic arm of Worldwide Oilfield Machine, a multinational designer and manufacturer of drill through well control equipment based in Houston, Texas. Established in 2003 to combat: Poverty Social exclusion Lack of education Unemployment, and Low income challenges facing rural residents in Pune, with a focus on children Increase global awareness and exposure among high school students about alternative energy sources and living off the grid 2 July 22, 2012 A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Energy Sources
Whole Person Wellness concept People become aware of and make choices towards a more successful existence The Vision International School- safe, supportive environment to learn the skills and values that provide a foundation for success in education, work, and life Teaching and Training Rekha & Sudhir Puranik Foundation Solar Power Back to Basics: Living with and Learning about Alternative Sources of Energy Program provides foreign students opportunity to learn about alternative energy sources while living in an unplugged but connected environment Rainwater Harvesting Biomass Energy 3 July 22, 2012 A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Sources of Energy
Vision International School
Living Off the Grid Educating children to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty More than a decade of living off the grid, we re a fully sustainable community Biomass particularly cow manure and human waste, for cooking and cleaning Mixed with water and channeled into fermentation pits, the resulting gas provides energy for cooking and hot water for bathing and cleaning Dried manure left after the 'biogas' process is used as fertilizer to improve crop production and soil quality Solar power provides electricity needs and allows our boarding students to study after the sun goes down A drip irrigation system, using the varying elevations of the land, captures, diverts, and stores rainwater for drinking and irrigation 5
Adult Job Training Program Educating adults with limited skills and little or no access to better paying jobs Employs indigenous workers for all major projects Dozens of illiterate and marginalized villagers gaining exposure to using recyclable materials and green technologies for electricity, water, waste and agricultural farming Next project, a more elaborate water harvesting system Learning to use innovative, accessible, and low tech solutions that will help the Foundation remain self-sustaining Goal is to teach technologies they can understand and use to improve their own well-being and households 6 A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Energy Sources
The Back to Basics- Back to Basics: Living With & Learning About Alternative Sources of Energy
High school students from around the globe learn about alternative sources of energy while living in an unplugged environment A first-hand look at sustainability in action Live and learn with local students at Vision International 10-days, highlighting school s water conservation and harvesting efforts, solar power and biomass energy 8 July 22, 2012 A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Sources of Energy
Rekha & Sudhir Puranik Foundation Working to create self-sustaining and mutually beneficial communities A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Sources of Energy Providing education and environmental awareness for local and foreign students Providing training and employment opportunities in the green industry for indigenous villagers with limited skills Programs centered on the Whole Person Wellness Concept - empowering people to take charge of their lives and seek opportunities to make it better 9 July 22, 2012 A Living Lab: Off-Grid Living with Alternative Sources of Energy