Build It is excited to join the REHEATZ project (Recovering Embedded Heat in Zambian food production) – a pioneering initiative that is tackling sustainability challenges in food production by capturing and reusing waste heat.
Through this collaboration, we will equip young people with essential skills in green construction so that wastewater heat recovery systems can be built and maintained by a new generation of skilled professionals.
Led by Trinity College Dublin and the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), REHEATZ aims to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of food processing operations.
Food processing often requires significant amounts of hot water, much of which is discarded as waste. By recovering and reusing this heat, the project aims to lower energy consumption, cut costs and reduce carbon emissions. The project will see the installation of a full-scale heat recovery system at Zambeef Huntley Farm, Chisamba.
Empowering young people for sustainable solutions
Build It Country Director Chilufya Kasutu welcomed the partnership saying:
“This collaboration is an incredible opportunity to give young people hands-on experience in green construction. It creates employment opportunities in the growing green economy, while also supporting climate resilience and sustainable development. It’s a win-win!”
Professor Paul Coughlan, Trinity Business School, co-PI:
“Our partnership with Build It is key to developing local supply chains and building local capacity for installation and maintenance of the heat recovery system.
We look forward to working with the young women and men, trained by Build It, as they develop their skills and experience through the REHEATZ project. This initiative is a great step towards generating green jobs in Zambia.”
Skills training for a sustainable future
Through this partnership, Build It will provide training and capacity-building opportunities to ensure that wastewater heat recovery systems and storage tanks can be fabricated and maintained locally.
We have recalled six of our young graduates – two women and four men, all of whom have been actively developing their skills since completing their entry-level training with us. They have started a four-week upskill programme in plumbing, a critical skill needed for the construction of the REHEATZ integrated system.
As part of their training, the graduates visited the Zambeef site to see first-hand how the prototype hot well operates and how their skills will contribute to its success.
SAIPAR Research Associate Bwalya Derick leads our graduates on a tour to learn about the functionality of the hot well
An opportunity for our six young graduates to gain additional skills to boost their career prospects
Climate action and economic empowerment
The REHEATZ project aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) by reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency.
SAIPAR research fellow and REHEATZ Local coordinator Dr Godfrey Hampwaye said:
“By upskilling young people in plumbing and sustainable heating technologies, we are not only strengthening their future job prospects but also making meaningful strides towards a climate-just world.”
The REHEATZ partnership represents an exciting step in developing a young workforce ready to build a greener future.
For more information on REHEATZ visit www.reheatz.ie