CAT Visit 2014

So today we have visited the Center of Alternate Technology (CAT) in Wales. Started in 1974, when the building commenced, this center was inventing new innovative ways of reducing the carbon footprint. But now we the science and research taking leaps and bounds above them, they are taking what the scientists are producing, and theories, and putting them to the test by researching and testing them. The main purpose of the center is to educated the public, and show them alternative solutions and decrease our impact on the earth. The Center of Alternative Technology is a independent charity, and is not involved or funded by the government, they also will refuse and type of donation or funding from any business or brand that they do not agree with their practices.

The most impressive thing about the center is the WISE building, which is the new Wales Institute for Sustainable Education, which opened in June 2010. The green building is a energy conservation and generates renewable energy while incorporating a construction of earth and the latest solar technology. It is used primarily as a teaching room, lecture theatre but also is used as bedrooms for the residential course students and an exhibition area.

The light in the room is sourced primarily from the natural sunlight, using a big 'hole' in the roof to let it through directly. There are also huge doors, the size of the walls that slide across to open up to the outside, letting floods of light into the room.

 When the big hole in the rood is covered, operated by a switch on the wall, the WISE room uses low energy light bulbs, which gradually get brighter the longer they are left on.

The lecture took place, with a lady who works in the Center of Alternative Technology, some who knew her stuff and was excitable about passing on her knowledge about our carbon footprint. Through the lecture we took part in some activities, which allowed us to decided what would be most important to use to keep, if we had a choice. Most of us chose 'non-materialistic' things, like friends and family, and feeling safe and loved (which I think shocked her a little).  

The workshop spoke about their work on Zero Carbon Britain,, a project that will reduce our carbon footprint by a mass.

The living planet report, which is released every two years, shows us that since, 1970. The plant and animal count is decreasing. In 1970 we were living within the worlds biocapicity. But after this time, the population count has risen and now we are way over our worlds biocapicity. The views of this lady was that the richer you were the bigger your footprint, as the more money you have, the more you spend, the more you consume, the more you travel. 

Nitrous oxide = green house gases. 
Ocean acidification - absorbs carbon dioxide; - acidifies.

Also at the center was a shop, which sold books on how to improve your carbon footprint, as well as many many items made from recycled or reusable items, like soap, shampoo, home remedies, pencils, rulers and bags to name a few things. 

Unfortunately the shop was closed by the time we got out of the lecture, and so we could not go in an take interior shots of the shop, though I tried my best by taking a photo with my camera up against the window!

The most curious thing I found on the trip was the black tunnel that ran through a little way. It reminded me of a little hobbit hole from the Lord Of The Rings. But when I went inside, you heard a woman's voice telling you to be careful and to watch your step and go slow...quite scary! The first thing you saw was a mole that was 'digging' through side of the wall. You then go through a curtain, and go into a dark area, that you can only see little light up boxes filled with materials etc for you to look at more closely. This was very interesting but scary too, it played with your senses, leaving just the little light to see but mostly touch, with things on the walls for you to feel and explore. 

I thought this was a very clever and subtle way of using materials for other uses. At first when I first saw this, I didn't think anything of it. I just thought it was one of those small garden fence panels that you use to seperate your plants, but when i looked closer i saw they were made of glass bottles! A really good way of using objects for a different purpose and using them upside down meant they weren't obviously bottles. 

He was an interesting fellow I saw just before I left the center, he was fun and intriguing but at the same time a little creepy and I was convinced he might start moving! 

This was found right at the beginning of the trip, the first thing we saw, a type of transport using water for power. A really interesting use of a material that was designed for something else. Though we did not get a chance to see it working or use it ourselves (so i do not know anything about it) it was a cool thing to welcome us to the center!

Here are the other photographs I took around the center. I hope this gives you a good idea of the day we had in the Center of Alternative Technology!