My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: How MSTEM's Solar for USF Community Access Points can Recycle Jamaican Plastic and Styrofoam

Friday, August 18, 2017

How MSTEM's Solar for USF Community Access Points can Recycle Jamaican Plastic and Styrofoam

“We made a decision that… all sites must have, as a critical component, solar solutions. This is important in order to remove that burden… of the high cost of (electricity) from the communities,”

Science, Energy and Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley commenting on the CAP (Community Access Points)

The Government of Jamaica is moving to make CAP (Community Access Points) literally be self-powered. This as they've thrown Solar Power into the mix.

Science, Energy and Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley has decided to go solar for some 250 CAPS as reported in the article  “Solar Systems for Community Access Points”, published April 19, 2017 by Alecia Smith, The Jamaica Information Service

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This latest bit of news on the USF (Universal Service Fund) pet project popped out on Thursday August 10th, 2017 during the official opening of the $3.5-million Annotto Bay computer resource centre in St Mary. It was also the launch of the 256th CAP facility in Annotto Bay, the seventh overall in St Mary.

It seems that 70 of the 250 were operating inefficiently according to their 2016 audit of the CAPs as noted in “Community access points to be powered by solar energy”, published Friday, August 11, 2017, The Jamaica Observer.

No surprise to me; Wi-Fi does use a LOT of power.

While the Government is at it, they might want to consider making the CAP's in collection points for Plastic Bottles and Styrofoam for recycling.

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This can be done in exchange for longer time on the internet as a means of Paying Jamaicans to recycle as explained in my blog article entitled “How JA$100 for recycling 500ml Plastic bottles and Styrofoam Ban will save Jamaica's Environment”.

So in one fell swoop, 2 problems can be solved; inefficient CAP and recycling Plastic Bottles and Styrofoam!!!


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