The GreenHouse Environmental Awareness Centre informs schools, tourists and the local community about the enormous terrestrial and marine biodiversity of the Cape Whale Coast region, the opportunities that exist to access and experience the natural wonders available, the economic importance of the ecosystem services that are provided and on which we depend, including agriculture, aquaculture and recreational activities, and the vulnerability of the ecosystems to serious degradation due to human neglect and abuse.
The WCC provides a range of facilities and environmental services from the GreenHouse. These include, for example, curriculum aligned educational resources, lessons for school educators and learners, displays and exhibitions, talks, workshops and eco-adventure activities for adults and families. Advisory services include information and guidance on alternative energy opportunities and environmental policy and law as well as offering professional environmental services to companies and developers.
Whale Coast Conservation is not just talking green, we have gone green. Our new home on the R43, between Hawston and Vermont, called the Green House, is going green with sustainable off-grid technology.
We have 16 photovoltaic panels that produce most of our electricity, especially on sunny days. In addition there are 3 horizontal axis wind turbines on the roof and we have a 1 kW vertical axis turbine as well. The waterless composting toilets are operational and will be invaluable in a situation where water saving is essential. Meantime we are harvesting rainwater from every roof surfacesince it is our only source of water.
The Green House houses the WCC offices, an educational resource centre, a display area and an auditorium. Why not hold your next meeting, workshop or conference in a truly green venue and in the process help us to further develop this venue as a model of off-grid technology.
The Green House is generously funded by the the following funders.