Thursday, March 4, 2010

HOW THE PROJECT IS SAVING LIVES

Why We Should Adopt Solar Lanterns PDF Print E-mail

Economic difficulties encountered from the dependence on petroleum fuels by Kenya have been a stumbling block to the Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty.

Furthermore the combustion of fossil fuels is one of the key factors in the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere that are contributing to global warming and the subsequent climate change.

With the current Kerosene prices retailing at almost US$ 1 per liter, our Solar Powered Lanterns will enable poor families save at least US$ 4 every week, and thus increase their spending power on food and other basic needs. The US$4 is enough to purchase over 8 Kgs of maize flour which is the stable food in Kenya. This will reduce hunger and starvation and indeed Save Lives.

The combustion leads to the emission of pollutants such as carbon, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulates, from Kerosene, leads to air pollution and have negative effects on human health.

Plastic Bottles and Gallon containers are also used to carry kerosene bought in liters from pumps which are discarded carelessly leading to environmental pollution.

Decline in educational standards is attributed to lack of lighting since activities such as reading children doing their homework and studying are affected.

Rural and slums dwelling units in Kenya are predominantly structures which are built from mud, wood and grass. Given that kerosene is highly Flammable, it makes using kerosene for lighting dangerous to households.

Based on the concept of sustainable development, Kenya’s reliance on petroleum fuel imports as the major lighting provider in rural areas is unsustainable both in the short and long term creating the need for a shift to an alternative form of lighting and using solar energy in Kenya could be a sustainable long term solution with the potential to induce economic growth, reduce poverty, improve living standards and reduce environment degradation.