Amity Foundation nabs energy grant
$9,875 slated for AF projects,
technology office funded too
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Of the Emerald
Over $28,000 in federal energy
conservation grants have been
targeted for Lane County pro
jects through the state Depart
ment of Energy.
The Amity Foundation, a
Eugene aquaculture (fish-rearing)
and wastewater treatment facility,
received $9,875 for five separate
projects. After the money arrives
in November, Amity has seven
months to complete the projects.
“We specialize in integrated
solar aquaculture,” said Amity’s
acting director John Splane,
who says a port project will in
volve a test solar greenhouse in
Dexter. It will be used to grow
vegetables and will be warmed by
solar-heated wastewater in 800 to
900 gallon containers.
Amity raises fish as part of its
greywater treatment process.
Wastewater from all house uses
except the toilet is treated by a
recirculating sand trickle filter.
This 3-square-foot sand filter
removes contaminants from the
water through a natural biological
process. The water is repumped
through the sand at least three
times (over a two week) period.
“We monitor the water quality to
see how many contaminants are
left,” Splane said. “After two
weeks, it should be pretty clean."
The water is then used in
Amity's fish-rearing tanks. Sev
eral different species are grown in
this manner, including the Israeli
carp, bluegills, blueheads, Oscars
(a common aquarium fish), and
the tropical tilapia.
“Tilapia grow rapidly in the
warm water," Splane said. “They
taste something like yellow perch,
and are raised world-wide. The
Oscars are also a good food fish."
Splane said residents of the
Northwest are not familiar with the
culinary delights of warm-water
tisn Decause they are accustomed
to cold-water trout and salmon.
Amity will also publish a hand
book on recirculating aquaculture
systems, conduct workshops and
public tours of its process and
hook up a windmill to the fish
rearing facilities with its grant
money.
‘The windmill will run an air
compressor which will aerate the
fish tanks,” Splane said.
Amity encourages interested
persons to join one of its weekly
tours to learn more about aquacul
ture. Call 484-7171 for more in
formation.
An energy conservation grant
was also awarded to Lane
County’s Office of Appropriate
Technology (OAT). $8,850 will
fund OAT’s composting garbage
project on Seavey Loop Fid.
“The grant is to set up a pilot
project to recycle commercial
compostable wastes, such as that
from landscaping businesses or
restaurants,” said Bill Mackie,
conservation specialist for the
Energy Dept. “OAT intends to
have this material available to the
general public for soil amend
ments.”
Soil amendments would include
mulching material for gardens or
other uses. OAT expects to ac
quire 14 tons of organic material
each week for the project.
OAT Director Sam Sadler said
the material improves the water
retention capabilities of the soil.
“The composted material sup
ports microbial life in the soil as
well.”
Mackie of the energy depart
ment said these grants are valu
able to the community, and sug
gests other groups apply for them.
“ We would like to encourage
other OAT and energy offices to
form around the state because the
Department of Energy can’t get
around to all areas.”
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