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Thomas Heikkala--Renewable Energy Advisor thomas@plentyaustin.org
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| Thomas
Heikkala is one of the founding members of Plenty International, which
he has served in a number of technical assistance and advisory capacities
over the past 27 years. Thomas has lived in Austin since 1982, and has
been active in many grass roots initiatives aimed at addressing human
rights and environmental issues.
For many years Thomas has been convinced of the importance of educating people about renewable energy systems and cost-effective, energy-efficient building design. During the past four years he has attended education programs at Solar Energy International where he learned more about renewable energy systems in use around the world, and the importance they hold for small and large communities. He has assisted farming families in Belize to learn methods of building and operating solar food dryers. This work helped him gain a understanding of the needs of rural families in developing countries and how renewable energy systems can support their efforts to address basic needs, including food production, access to water, and safe home lighting. Presently
Thomas is coordinating Plenty Austin's collaborative effort with Solar
Energy International and the Toledo Cacao Growers Association (an organization
of farmers in southern Belize) to make renewable energy systems, including
solar food drying, solar electric home lighting, and solar electric
water pumping available to low income families living in the Toledo
District of Belize. In between consulting and traveling for Plenty Austin,
he works as a self-employed carpenter. Thomas is married to Karen,
who is also active in Plenty Austin. |