At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family’s home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life. [1]

William Kamkwamba, from Malawi, is a born inventor. When he was 14, he built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap, working from rough plans he found in a library book called Using Energy and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home.

After reading about Kamkwamba on Mike McKay’s blog Hactivate (which picked up the story from a local Malawi newspaper), TEDGlobal Conference Director Emeka Okafor spent several weeks tracking him down at his home in Masitala Village, Wimbe, and invited him to attend TEDGlobal on a fellowship. Onstage, Kamkwamba talked about his invention and shared his dreams: to build a larger windmill to help with irrigation for his entire village, and to go back to school.

Following Kamkwamba’s moving talk, there was an outpouring of support for him and his promising work. Members of the TED community got together to help him improve his power system (by incorporating solar energy), and further his education through school and mentorships. Subsequent projects have included clean water, malaria prevention, solar power and lighting for the six homes in his family compound; a deep-water well with a solar-powered pump for clean water; and a drip irrigation system. Kamkwamba himself returned to school, and is now attending the African Leadership Academy, a new pan-African prep school outside Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kamkwamba’s story is documented in his autobiography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. A short documentary about Kamkwamba, called Moving Windmills, won several awards last year; Kamkwamba and friends are now working on a full-length film. You can read the ongoing details on his blog (which he keeps with help from his mentor), and support his work and other young inventors at MovingWindmills.org. [2]

[1] http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_how_i_harnessed_the_wind.html

[2] http://www.ted.com/speakers/william_kamkwamba.html

p.s. This is a shameless copy of content over at Ted Talks, in an attempt to get family and friends hooked on TED.

Simple, low cost actions can have a big impact, so its best to start with energy conservation and efficiency. Then make maximum use of alternative forms of energy e.g., passive lighting, biomass, and gas. Only then does it make sense to investigate renewable energy options like micro-hydro or solar PV (photovoltaic) panels.

The ground step on the energy pyramid is the simplest: Energy Analysis. Take a look at equipment currently in use. Does it have a regular maintenance schedule? Is it in good working order? Is equipment being run even when not in use? It is very difficult to save energy and money if equipment is not properly maintained or is overtaxed.

The second step on the pyramid is Energy Conservation. Simple behavioural changes can make a long lasting (and immediate) impact on the amount of fuel and electricity used. Simply by turning off unneeded lights, fans, and equipment, and adjusting the thermostat, savings can be achieved.

Energy Efficiency is the third step on the energy pyramid. By taking the human element out of the process (such as installing automatic timers), it is ensured that the lights will be turned off, and the fans will only come on when needed. Upgrading to equipment that is energy efficient (such as Energy Star© washers or NEMA Premium© motors) requires an initial investment, but the quality and longevity of the equipment is usually worth it.

The fourth step in the pyramid is Time-of-Use Management. This is the second to last step, and where dedication to changing behavior impacts not only on bills but the greater community as well. By running as much equipment as possible during off-peak hours, demand charges will decrease, often significantly. Not only will the farm benefit from smaller bills, but the community at large will benefit as well. Less usage during peak hours means that that power stations will not have to struggle to meet needs, and will emit less pollution in its attempts to keep up with the demand.

At the top of the energy pyramid is the final measure: Renewable Energy. Simply put, renewable energy is manufactured from naturally replenishing sources, such as solar and wind power, hydroelectricity, and bio-fuels like methane derived from manure or landfill gases, and corn-based ethanol. Conversion to renewable resources can be a costly investment, but in the long run the payback could be huge.

This was adapted from http://www.ensave.com/assets/files/The%20Energy%20Pyramid%20Solutions%20from%20the%20Ground%20Up.pdf http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/energy/publications/all/csu/2008-23/biogas, and is intended only as a quick introduction to the concept. The energy pyramid was designed by EnSave in 2007 as an illustration to help others understand the process of using energy efficiently. EnSave developed this tool as a result of its 17 years’ experience designing and implementing energy efficiency programs.