iShack Brings Sustainable Living to South African Slums

Researchers at a South African University are putting a modern twist on a way of life for sub-Saharan shack dwellers.

The iShack, or improved shack, is designed to improve living conditions with solar panels for power and electricity. The prototype shack, located in a settlement outside Stellenbosch, South Africa, stands out from the typical rusty metal and wood dwellings.

A photovoltaic panel sits on the roof to power three lights, a motion sensitive exterior light and a cellphone charger. The floor is made of bricks from a local landfill, and the back wall is built from clay and hay to regulate temperature.

In an area with limited resources, the extended roof overhang helps to…
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