Environment
Minimizing
the ecological footprint
In order
to minimise the ecological footprint, Mashovhela Lodge was built
on the already degraded site of an abandoned Venda settlement. Considerable
efforts were made to preserve, wherever possible, the existing indigenous
vegetation, in particular the trees. Any unavoidable damage (including
natural damage caused by the floodwaters of a cyclone in 2000),
was repaired, where possible, by replanting locally indigenous grasses,
trees and other vegetation, grown from seed or rescued from nearby
road building and other construction activities.
Roads,
hiking and walking trails are constructed, where possible following
previously existing wagon roadways, footpaths, game and cattle trails.
Ongoing efforts are made to prevent or repair any damage by erosion.
Gardening
We avoid introducing any decorative plants into the Lodge environment
which are foreign to the natural vegetation of Morning Sun Nature
Reserve. Even the lawns are based on grass species naturally occurring
in the valley.
Waste
management
All waste of the Lodge is sorted to recover any recyclable materials
(glass, paper, plastic). Organic waste is composted. Sewage is passed
through multiple-chamber septic tank systems, where it is cleaned
by anaerobic fermentation before passing into amply dimensioned
French drain systems. Likewise, waste water from the kitchen is
pre-cleaned in grease traps before passing into the French drain
system together with other waste water from the Lodge. At a future
stage, reusing such water for gardening purposes will be considered.
Also, once volumes permit, consideration will be given to recycling
grease trap skimmings, used cooking oil and other wastes as biofuels
as well as recovering biogas from the sewerage system and composting
plant. (See "Renewable Energy").
Water
supply
The Lodge uses a shallow borehole for gardening and fire-fighting
purposes and a borehole drilled 70 m deep into a strong solid rock
aquifer for drinking water. The latter water source is of very high
purity. Although these water sources are plentiful, guests and staff
are encouraged to use this precious water sparingly. Guests are
encouraged to reuse their towels and indicate which towels are to
be collected for laundering.
Renewable
energy
At an early stage the owners of Mashovhela Lodge made a conscious
decision not to connect to the public power grid, but instead to
use renewable energy, wherever possible, to satisfy the energy needs
of the Lodge. In this manner Mashovhela Lodge contributes to minimising
green house gas emission and climatic change.
(i)
Solar hot water
Two systems are in use: Flat solar hot water panels built according
to a design published about 30 years ago by the South African
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and a much
more sophisticated and efficient system, developed by Dr H H Hahn,
co-owner and CEO of the Lodge, based on a recent invention by
Helmut Nass and forming the subject of international patent protection.
The latter system is about to be mass-produced in South Africa
for worldwide marketing. This flat panel system is assembled from
black anodised extruded aluminium profiles specially designed
for extreme thermal efficiency.
(ii)
Wood-burning hot water boilers
The solar systems are supplemented by a highly efficient, wood-burning
small hot water boiler designed by Dr H.H. Hahn. In its first
test run, this boiler brought a 700 litre hot water tank to the
boil in just over half an hour, thus ensuring that hot water will
be available even when the weather is bad.
(iii)
Solar electricity (PV-panels)
The Lodge has a 1200 Watt array of PV panels mounted at an angle
to the sun which is adjustable, depending on the season, for maximum
output. A more sophisticated solar tracking system is in the planning
stage. The existing system charges a 24 V set of batteries (capacity
36 kVA), enough to supply all the lighting and some power requirements
of the Lodge. The DC voltage is inverted to 220 V AC (50 Hertz).
Guests and staff are encouraged to use electricity sparingly.
(iv)
Generator power
The generator house has three diesel generators of 5 kVA, 30 kVA
and 50 kVA respectively, any one of which can be used at a given
time to supplement the output of (iii) above as needed. In accordance
with the policy to use renewable energy wherever possible, the
following plans are to be implemented:
(v)
Bio fuels
As a first step it is planned to collect used cooking oil and
other wastes at the Lodge as well as in the neighbourhood and
convert these into biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas, care being
taken to avoid pollution. These fuels are to be used for powering
the generators and vehicles and supplement the LPG needs of the
Lodge.
(vi)
Chemo-thermal gasification of biomass ("wood gas")
Dr Hans H. Hahn, co-owner of the Lodge, has been engaged for 30
years, first in collaboration with Forschungszentrum J�lich (Formerly
"KfA") in Germany, and later in collaboration with Prof. H. Mosch
of FH Giessen, Germany to develop sophisticated, patented technology
for non-polluting thermal gasification of carbonaceous solids,
in particular biomass and organic waste materials to produce an
environmentally friendly, engine-compatible fuel gas. Prototypes
are being designed for local production and, when ready, such
a plant will produce gas for running the power generators of the
Lodge as well as for cooking in place of LPG.
(vii)
Firewood
All firewood requirements of the Lodge are met by utilising wood
recovered from the Nature Reserve's exotics (eucalyptus and wattle)
and bush encroachment control programs. Otherwise indigenous wood
is used only when recovered from dead trees. Wood is used for
hot water production, heating, barbecues and, in future, wood
gas production.
(viii)
Micro-pump storage
Mashovhela Lodge serves as a demonstration project for alternative
energy. With this in mind, it is intended to install a small pump
storage reservoir at an ecologically selected site in the mountain
above the Lodge for storing excess power generated by the solar
and other systems and recouping this energy when needed by means
of a micro-turbine. The small storage reservoir in the mountain
could also collect rainwater and, in addition, provide a source
of high pressure water in case of fire.
Expansion
plans
The management of the Reserve is always on the lookout for opportunities
to increase the land available to animals for moving about without
artificial restraints. This is achieved by purchases or co-operation
agreements with neighbouring land owners who are willing to abide
by the rules of the Reserve. One piece of land recently acquired
includes ecologically valuable and scenically attractive areas and
improves the accessibility of a major part of Morning Sun Nature
Reserve. It also includes a portion which at present is completely
degraded and can thus be used for development without negative environmental
impact. A boutique spa hotel is under consideration there, combined
with an ecologically-friendly golf course. The latter is to be achieved
by replanting exclusively locally indigenous grasses and other vegetation,
requiring little water, but being attractive to indigenous bird
life and other animals. Whatever water is needed will be supplied
by recycling waste water from the hotel.
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