Utility Access
The lab's location on Appledore Island makes access to public utilities difficult. However, several strategies are employed to provide an experience similar to mainland living.
Fuel
Propane for hot water and cooking is shipped out to the island on the lab's boats in 100 pound canisters. Gasoline for island vehicles and light equipment is also shipped out on the boats. Diesel fuel for generators and heavy equipment is provided on a yearly basis by barge.
Electricity
The lab's generators use 35 gallons of diesel a day based on 2009 reports, supporting a base load of 30 kilowatts. 70 gallons of diesel a day are consumed when the lab's reverse osmosis water system is running. Conservation efforts and green energy - a 7.5 kilowatt Burgee turbine and a solar panel array - have allowed the purchase and installation of a smaller 27 kW diesel generator. This smaller generator can often provide necessary power instead of the 65-kilowatt generator alternative. Electrical utilities are delivered throughout the island by in ground or above ground shielded cables carrying primarily AC 60 Hz power. The lab plans to install more solar panels and continue conservation efforts in the near future.
Communications
Shoals currently uses a 5.8 GHz wireless link which provides a connection from a New Castle, NH base station to the WWII radio tower on the island. Internet access is distributed to the buildings via a fiber, ethernet, and wireless network. Island staff carry VHF radios for inter-island communication and cell phones for mainland phone calls. Vonage is used for more formal office phone and fax needs. VHF channel 80A is monitored for boat to island communication.
Disposal services
Waste is sorted at every collection point into compost, trash, and recycling. Trash and recycling are carried off the island weekly; trash is disposed of by contractors and recycling is brought to a recycling center. Compost is moved to composting bins on the northern side of the island where it is allowed to decompose over the winter.
Sewage
Sewage is treated with a subsurface leach field and Clivus Multrum composting toilet installations. Eljen In-Drain technology is used in order to decrease the size of the leach field as gravel must be imported to the island by barge. The success of the Clivus installation has opened the way for more composting toilet installations. No sewage is pumped into the ocean, although a chlorine and sodium bisulfite sanitizing treatment was used to accomplish this in the past.
Fresh water
Water is obtained from a 20 foot well on the north side of the island. This supply can serve the island during peak times only if sufficient rain falls during the summer. A reverse osmosis backup system provides fresh water if available well water does not meet demand.
Read more about this topic: Shoals Marine Laboratory
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You can create art and beauty on a computer.
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—Steven Levy, U.S. writer. Hackers, ch. 2, “The Hacker Ethic,” pp. 27-33, Anchor Press, Doubleday (1984)