Lesotho Sustainability Assessment Project, 2009 - energyforumlesotho

Parafin Provider 1
Parafin sold at a local general store in the peri-urban community of Ha Motloheloa on the outskirts of Maseru. Parafin has many uses in Lesotho, such as fuel for space heaters and to clean paint brushes or remove paint from the skin - to name a few. Most stores have the parafin delivered to their site and stored in large metal tanks, usually kept outside. As this photo depicts, small portions of parafin are then kept inside the stores in large metal tanks for easy access; shoppers can purchase a Liter of parafin (typically poured into a used glass Coca-Cola bottle) that the store attendant pours from a pitcher. The parafin fumes overpower the store. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Parafin Provider 2
Parafin sold at a local Chinese-owned general store in the peri-urban community of Masianokeng on the outskirts of Maseru. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Local Transport Options
Typical transportation option for communities in Lesotho. This photograph was taken en route to Maseru from the mountains of the Highland Water Project. Basotho are often seen pushing wheelbarrows carrying plastic containers of water, parafin, and petrol from the local store (which can be any amount of km away) to their homes. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Maseru firewood supplier
Many Basotho in the peri-urban and rural areas of Lesotho rely on local firewood harvesting from the environment, to the detriment of this draught-ridden country characterized by severe soil erosion and the formation of 'dongas' (sesotho word for the deep gullies created by soil erosion and flash floods). Over-harvesting of firewood has not only resulted in receding forest lines and the loss of natural territory demarcations, but also has resulted in longer hours spent collecting fuel by the poor. This firewood provider in Maseru at Borokhoaneng sells 50kg of firewood (or 'patsi') for 36R (roughly $5USD), which is prohibitively high for most Basotho; the firewood pictured here is harvested from a Lesotho town called Morija (about 45 kilometres south of Maseru) and does not come from a sustainably harvested stand. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Firewood at Borokhoaneng
Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

DSCN1324.JPG
DSCN1324.JPG 2009-07-07

Coal supply in Maseru
One of many coal suppliers around Maseru, the store Borokhoaneng sells 50kg bags of coal (or 'mashala') for 75R (about $10USD). Coal vendors are typically identified by piles of loose coal in front of store fronts, or in abandoned lots with individuals, oftentimes young boys, shoveling the lumps into sacks. These piece jobs as they are called (for there is no guarantee of work and no benefits or pension) are a typical form of employment in Lesotho. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Stove focus group
Basotho women from the female 'society' groups at an 'Improved Stove' focus group at the Minister of Gender's home in Mafateng, Lesotho; Rice alumna Joanna Cummings is demonstrating the Envirofit stove. Basotho feedback extolled the decreased firewood use and reduced smoke emission with the Envirofit, but wish the stove accomodated a larger pot size. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Basotho children at play
Basotho children playing outside the Minister of Gender's home in Mafateng during the 'Improved Stove' focus group. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Smoke LESS wonder
In field tests of the Envirofit stove, conducted by Rice alumna Joanna Cummings, the stove consistently produced less vi

3-foot open fire cooking
Firewood is the most common fuel for cooking in the rural and peri-urban areas of Lesotho. Open fire cook stoves consist

Envirofit stove beats the competition
Civil Engineer and Rice alumna Joanna Cummings sits with a local Masotho woman standing proudly over her pot of Papa whi

Stirring Papa on the Envirofit Stove
A local Masotho woman stirs Papa with a stick over the Envirofit stove; note the lack of visible smoke - the fire is bur

Stirring Papa on a 3-foot fire
A local Masotho woman stirs Papa with a stick over a 3-foot stand with a cast-iron pot; note the thick smoke surrounding

Firewood remaining - Envirofit
In this cooking test, the Envirofit stove was tested against the traditional cast-iron pot on a 3-foot stand over an ope

Firewood remaining - 3-foot
Cooking test results: though the 3-foot system cooked a couple of minutes faster than the Envirofit stove, the 3-foot co

Dongas
These 'dongas' dominate the landscape of Lesotho, caused by drought, flash floods and deforestation; soil erosion is one

Koalabata Primary School
Main school building at Koalabata Primary School; built by the Irish Government in 1986. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Koalabata students
Koalabata primary school students in 'winter' session. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Koalabata abandoned classroom
Designated site for pilot project: Weatherization. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Roof close-up
Koalabata abandoned classroom. Designated Pilot project: Weatherization. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Roof interior 1
Koalabata abandoned classroom - existing roof (no ceiling or insulation). Room currently used as a storage room. Photo c

Roof interior 2
Koalabata abandoned classroom - existing roof joist supports (no ceiling or insulation). Corrugated metal roof. Photo cr

Roof interior 3
Koalabata abandoned classroom - roof and plastered stone wall juncture. Crossbeams providing minimal structural or roof

Roof removal 1
Koalabata abandoned classroom - corrugated metal roof and crossbeam removal. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Roof removal 2
Koalabata abandoned classroom - corrugated metal roof and crossbeam removal. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Roof removal 3
Koalabata abandoned classroom - corrugated metal roof and crossbeam removal. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Roofless Koalabata 1
Contracted engineer, Ralesilo Moholo and Energy Forum Director, Amy Myers Jaffe inside the roofless classroom. Photo cre

Roofless Koalabata 2
Masotho Skilled Laborer. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Roof A-Frames
Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Leveling new wall
Koalabata abandoned classroom - Cinderblock wall extension to level existing plastered stone wall. New roof will be pitc

Koalabata construction 1
Koalabata abandoned classroom - building new wall extension to support raised, pitched roof. Photo credit: Lauren Smulce

Koalabata construction 2
Koalabata abandoned classroom - building new wall extension to support raised, pitched roof. Photo credit: Lauren Smulce

Koalabata construction 3
Koalabata abandoned classroom - building new wall extension to support raised, pitched roof. Photo credit: Lauren Smulce

Roof half-installed 1
Koalabata classroom: A-Frames cemented into new concreteblock wall extension, and corrugated metal roof half-installed.

Roof half-installed 2
Amanda Hu, Rice student researcher, speaking with Koalabata principal about the insulation project timeline. Photo credi

Roof half-installed 3
Masotho skilled laborer installing corrugated metal roofing on the new A-Frames at Koalabata. Photo credit: Lauren Smulc

New weather sealed window panes
Contracted engineer Ntate Moholo weather sealing the new classroom window glass panes with putty. Photo credit: Lauren S

Koalabata clean-out
Clearing out Koalabata classroom's stored desks. Prepping roof for painting. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Koalabata classroom with new roof
Koalabata classroom with new roof. Sunset. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

New weather sealed window panes 2
Contracted engineer Ntate Moholo weather sealing the new classroom window glass panes with putty. Photo credit: Lauren S

Classroom interior with new roof
Amanda Hu, Rice student researcher and coordinator for Koalabata weatherization pilot project, inside the newly roofed c

Cleaning the classroom 1
Basotho child-volunteers sweeping the Koalabata classroom's concrete floors with traditional grass brooms. Photo credit:

Cleaning the classroom 2
Basotho child-volunteers sweeping the Koalabata classroom's concrete floors with traditional grass brooms. Photo credit:

Koalabata classroom's new roof
With the new, pitched corrugated metal roof, the classroom at Koalabata primary school was ready for weatherproofing ste

Koalabata classroom's new skylight
Adding some needed natural light into the unelectrified building's interior, this skylight is molded like the corrugated

Weatherproofing roof rafters 1
After installing the new roof in the classroom at Koalabata primary school, Rice University undergraduate researcher Ama

Weatherproofing roof rafters 2
More time-consuming to weatherproof rafters after installation, Rice University undergraduate researchers dedicated seve

Weatherproofing roof rafters 3
Former Koalabata students help Rice University undergraduate researchers weatherproof the classroom's rafters and struct

Weatherproofing roof rafters 4
Koalabata primary school's affiliated church lends the gifted hands of its Choral Instructor to the classroom weatheriza

Weatherproofing roof rafters 5
continued. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Insulation Installation 1
Rice University undergraduation researcher Amanda Hu hands the Choral director a strip of double sided tape for securing

Insulation Installation 2
Rice University undergraduation researcher Mark Hoffman feeds insulation through the roof rafters across the length of t

Insulation Installation 3
Baker Institute energy policy researcher Lauren Smulcer seals overlapping insulation edges with reflective tape to enhan

Insulation Installation 4
This insulation, by Prodex, is specially engineered for metal structures; it reduces moisture formation while cooling bu

Insulation Installation 5
The insulation, once fitted and sealed around the roof's skylight, will cover the entirety of the classroom's roof. Phot

Basotho children in Motloheloa
Basotho children at the Motloheloa L.E.C. church - site of the pilot rainwater harvesting system.

Planning Motloheloa Rainwater system
Motloheloa L.E.C. - Rice student researchers Margaret Murphy and Marielle Schweickart taking initial measurements for th

Prepping new wood flashing
Motloheloa L.E.C. - Wood flashing was sealed to waterproof the backing for the rain gutters. Photo credit: Lauren Smulce

Prepping new wood flashing 2
Motloheloa L.E.C. - Rice student researchers Margaret Murphy, Marielle Schweickart, and Mark Hoffman; Rice alumna Joanna

Prepping new wood flashing 3
Motloheloa L.E.C. - Masotho skilled laborer lays painted flashing out to dry on extra foundation rebar. Photo credit: La

Foundation pit for rainwater system
Motloheloa L.E.C. - Gravel, rebar and concrete layers, to be followed by concreteblocks to form the cistern foundation.

Foundation celebration
Motloheloa L.E.C. - Rice student researchers, Margaret Murphy and Marielle Schweickart, in the center of their newly lai

Keyhole Garden Prep 1
Rice University undergraduate researchers Mark Hoffman and Kelley Liao demonstrated a keyhole garden at the homestead of

Keyhole Garden Prep 2
Stone gathering for the garden walls. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Keyhole Garden Prep 3
Stone gathering for the garden walls. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Keyhole Garden Prep 4
The team harvests long local grasses for the garden's basket walls, and shorter lengths for one layer of the garden bed.

Keyhole Garden Prep 5
The team harvests long local grasses for the garden's basket walls, and shorter lengths for one layer of the garden bed.

Keyhole Garden Prep 6
The team harvests long local grasses for the garden's basket walls, and shorter lengths for one layer of the garden bed.

Keyhole Garden Outline
The 'keyhole' garden derives its name from its shape, when viewed from above. The 'hole' is actually a basket through th

Constructing the Central Basket 1
The keyhole garden's basket is constructed of 4 corner posts secured into the center of the garden into the ground, and

Constructing the Central Basket 2
Continued. Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

The First Layer of the Keyhole Garden
Once the keyhole foundation of the garden is formed and lined with stone and the basket constructed, the bottom layer is

Other Keyhole Garden Layers
After the aloe and iron comes a layer of soil, a layer of short grasses or thatch (to trap moisture and air), followed b

Trimming the Thatching Grass
The thatching grass should be in two general lengths: long and short. The longer thatch should line the basket. The shor

Laying the Thatching in the Bed
The thatching grass garden layer will help trap moisture and air in the soil to promote plant growth. Rice researchers M

Adding the Soil/Manure Layers
Rice researcher Kelley Liao digs in to the project! Photo credit: Lauren Smulcer

Planting the Keyhole Garden 1
The keyhole garden is designed to grow seasonal vegetables throughout the year. The stone wall retains heat for the so

Planting the Keyhole Garden 2
Seed types should be planted in alternating rows between leefy and root vegetables so that soil nutrients are not deplet

A Happy Garden Owner
This garden is very low maintenance! The garden layers should be replaced every 4-5 years. The basket should be replaced