REDI - sharing renewable energy

REDI was a non-profit making institution promoting efficient, locally produced devices (cooking, heating, water treatment) for the benefit of the most destitute populations.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, this group of professionals from industry, technical high schools and the international world, was been involved, since the 1970s, in the development and promotion of inexpensive, but efficient devices, to be manufactured at the local level and using available sources of energy.

REDI offered its experience to help solve critical energy problems in developing regions to all institutions willing to act in this field.

The main activities in solving household, community and small industry energy problems, often combined with deforestation, are on this website and many of the devices developed and used worldwide are described in the Equipment section.

REDI believes that the efficient use of the available sources of energy, preferably renewable, is one of the outstanding factors necessary for the development of most countries today.

Working with retired artisans and farmers, as well as some high level technicians, REDI has saved from oblivion the tools, equipment and appliances used in the recent past in many different countries, powered with renewable sources of energy such as human and animal muscles, firewood, urban or rural waste, water, wind and solar energy. The most suitable equipment was adapted both to the materials existing today in developing countries, and to the mentality, habits and purchasing power of the people.

REDI has developed multi-fuel burners, gas burners, as well as sump oil burners, as firewood substitutes. These burners work well and do not pollute the environment. All in all REDI has demonstrated that there are stove models and substitute fuels which, if introduced on a larger scale, could greatly contribute in the fight against the destruction of forests.

REDI did not sell any stoves or appliances. It was chiefly concerned in designing and testing prototypes of equipment that could be built by local craftsmen in developing countries. REDI's main field of expertise was in the startup of local production of technically adequate equipment under difficult financial and organisational conditions. Usually REDI worked in association with other governmental or non-governmental organisations. We were mentioned in this article from the Red Cross.

REDI's founder, Waclaw Micuta, is the author of Modern stoves for all, published by Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd., 9 King Street, London WC2E 8HW, UK, in association with the Bellerive Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland, 1981, 1985. This book is also available in French.