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Bermuda Goes Green
 Blue seas, pink beaches and a green heart: As the world strives to give green living its due attention, so, too, Bermuda rises to the occasion.
The isolation of this island territory means additional challenges for procuring secure, reliable power. "Many people are focussing on cost first or return on investment first. We say, 'let's address security and reliability of that energy supply first,'" says Kevon Makell, vice president and general manager of PureNERGY Renewables Ltd., a sister company of the Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited. (www.belco.bm/purenergy)
Incorporated in 2008, PureNERGY ensures that renewable sources are included in Bermuda's energy mix. It specialises in customising small-scale, renewable systems for residential and commercial customers, with a combination of solar-photovoltaic, solar-thermal (hot water) and wind-turbine systems, plus state-of-the-art monitoring for optimal performance.
"On an island, we're dealing with the effects of global warming in a way others may not be, with rising sea levels and severity of storms," Makell explains. "So we want to ensure we have not only backup power supply but also a way to reduce reliance on petroleum-based sources in order to better sustain the economy and individual homeowners."
Makell says that with PureNERGY's resources, "it is possible to deploy conventional power sources and couple that with renewable energy sources that can add value to an island community."
Makell also lives in a green house. "It's wonderful," he says of the experience, part personal choice and part research. "It's enabling me to meet environmental objectives, and I'm meeting most of my performance objectives, too. The effects of weatherisation on equipment and components [are] consistent with what we forecasted." Makell says that benefits include:
- Clean, reliable power, even during outages;
- Electricity costs as much as 30 percent less;
- Ability to recoup the investment quickly;
- Bank financing for no up-front costs;
- Planning and inspections handled by PureNERGY; and
- Increased property value.
"In Bermuda, we're used to catching rain on our roofs, so we're used to using certain resources sparingly," says Buddy Rego, president of Rego Sotheby's International Realty. Whilst few residential buyers are yet demanding solar homes, "the people who are developing properties are certainly doing that. Buildings are becoming greener, so in that sense, [green-minded development] is definitely starting to make a foothold here."
Another Bermudian walking the green walk is Michael Burke, a dive-shop operator and devoted environmentalist. Burke's latest venture is The Greenhouse Bermuda, an organisation dedicated to bringing battery-assisted pedal bikes and battery-powered scooters to the islands to help cut down on air and noise pollution. (www.thegreenhousebermuda.com)
"I'm on a crusade here and I hope I can get people to realise it," says Burke. "In our dive business, we've always tried to recycle, so we're taking it a little further now, looking to have electrical vehicles to get rid of emissions and noise. On our little islands here, we have 45,000 vehicles on the road. The scooters and bikes we're selling have no emissions and no noise. The lithium iron batteries in there are almost totally recyclable, and the frames are aluminium, so they're recyclable, too."
Burke's plan is to sell the bikes and scooters and to expand eventually to offer battery-powered cars and trucks. "It's about making people understand their carbon footprint," says Burke. "It's about changing the mind-set."
Make your Bermuda trip even more memorable with dolphins! Dolphin Quest offers fun, interactive dolphin encounter programs for all. Book your adventure today!
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Have a fun-filled vacation with a cycle from Oleander. If you can ride a bicycle, you can easily ride an Oleander scooter. See all of Bermuda...reserve one today!
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Relax, enjoy, save and see Bermuda by bus. A blue or pink pole indicates bus stops. If the pole is topped with blue, the bus travels from Hamilton; if the pole is topped pink, the route is toward Hamilton.
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