Solar Energy and Rainwater Harvesting: Learning to Live Within an Island’s Limits
By Reyna Oleas & Roberto Plaza — Biologists and Co-founders of Montemar
Why Solar Energy Became a Necessary Choice
The decision to power Montemar with solar energy didn’t come from a trend or a certification. It came from a contradiction we couldn’t ignore.
We are in Ecuador—on the equatorial line, one of the most solar-rich belts on Earth. And yet, in the Galápagos—one of the most fragile places on the planet—much of the energy consumed has historically depended on fossil fuels shipped from mainland Ecuador, more than a thousand kilometers away.
That felt like an oxymoron.
Ecuador is historically an oil-producing country, and its energy system reflects that reality. Even today, solar power represents a negligible share of Ecuador’s installed generation capacity, while fossil fuel generation remains significant, including in the Galápagos. In contrast, solar energy has become mainstream in many parts of Europe and the United States.
In that context, choosing to build a solar-powered project in the Galápagos was not the easy or obvious path. It went against existing incentives, infrastructure, and habits. Precisely because of that, it felt necessary.
What we didn’t know then was how much that decision would teach us.
The Uncomfortable Question: How Much Energy Do You Actually Need?
One of the first lessons of solar—especially in island systems where energy is expensive and logistically fragile—is that you can’t design a solar system without answering a deceptively simple question:
How much energy do you really need?
Most of us don’t know.
If you take an electricity bill and divide it by the number of people in a household, you’re not seeing what you need—you’re seeing what you consume. And when energy feels unlimited, consumption has no natural brakes.
“Need” is different. It forces you to get specific: how many hours lights are on, how long laptops are plugged in, what appliances truly require electricity.
We learned this as a family. With our kids—around seven years old at the time—we literally turned appliances around to read wattage and understand what each one demanded. It became a hands-on lesson in physics, responsibility, and common sense.
Seeing appliance consumption side by side made the differences obvious. A typical electric toaster or waffle maker can draw between 800 and 1,500 watts. Electric coffee machines often fall in the same range. A laptop, by comparison, uses around 40 to 100 watts, while a LED light bulb may use as little as 5 to 10 watts.
That’s when we understood something fundamental: anything that produces heat is usually an energy hog.
Small Changes That Transform Energy Use
Once we understood the numbers, the solutions didn’t need to be dramatic.
We replaced an electric waffle maker with a stovetop waffle pan. We swapped an electric sandwich press for a simple tool used on the stove. We moved from an electric coffee machine to a French press.
These were small, almost invisible changes. But once you understand the energy behind everyday habits, you stop consuming on autopilot.
Solar energy didn’t ask us to give up comfort. It asked us to be intentional.
Designing With Nature, Not Against It
As the solar design process continued, another principle became clear:
The smartest approach isn’t to fight nature—it’s to use it.
Many projects respond to heat with constant air conditioning, one of the most energy-intensive solutions available. On an island, this translates into larger systems and deeper dependence on imported energy.
We chose a different approach.
Buildings were located and oriented to take advantage of natural wind patterns. Instead of manufacturing comfort, we let the island provide it. Wind became the cooling system.
Decisions about placement, orientation, and exposure to sunrise and sunset fundamentally changed indoor conditions. When design works with the environment, energy demand drops naturally. Solar systems don’t need to be bigger—they need to be smarter.
Efficiency Before Size
If we had sized our solar system based on how we consumed energy before changing habits, the system would have been massive and financially unrealistic.
In Ecuador, where clean-energy incentives have historically been limited, efficiency wasn’t optional—it was the only viable path.
We followed a simple sequence:
- Learn to consume less, intentionally
- Design a system around real needs
Solar energy didn’t reduce quality of life. It improved it by forcing better decisions.
Rainwater Harvesting: Depending on What the Island Gives
Water taught us a similar lesson.
In the Galápagos, freshwater is limited and vulnerable. Relying entirely on external systems adds pressure to infrastructure already operating at its limits.
From the beginning, we chose to base our water supply on rainwater harvesting—not as a secondary feature, but as a primary source.
Collecting water from the sky changes your relationship with it. Water stops feeling infinite. Seasons matter. Every liter carries meaning.
When you know your water comes from rainfall, conservation becomes intuitive. Not because someone tells you to save water, but because the system itself teaches you its value.
Quiet Infrastructure, Lasting Impact
Solar panels and rainwater systems are not usually the first things guests notice. Yet they support everything else.
Operating with solar energy and harvested rainwater introduces real limits. Those limits don’t diminish the experience—they align it with the place.
On an island, living well doesn’t mean consuming without measure. It means learning to live within what the land can offer, without breaking it.
At Montemar, that remains the foundation.
Sources
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Ecuador renewable energy statistical profile.
- U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration. Ecuador – Electric Power and Renewable Energy.
- International Energy Agency (IEA). Ecuador electricity and energy mix.
- U.S. Department of Energy / ENERGY STAR. Typical appliance wattage ranges.
Figures represent typical ranges and may vary by model and usage. National energy indicators vary by year and methodology; the broader conclusion remains consistent.
