Think Green Live Clean

Photo Credit: McKay Savage

In remote parts of Africa or the Indian subcontinent, electricity is not easily accessible to hundreds of millions of people. Among these, are business owners who must either close down their shop once the sun sets, or turn to candle light or polluting kerosene lamps for illumination. Kerosene is highly flammable and the fumes are noxious. Every year thousands of people in developing countries die from accidents involving kerosene stoves and lamps. Recently, however, a new option has surfaced.

Through small loans provided for solar power devises, microfinance has supported these rural regions suffering from the lack of electricity that has hindered economic development, literacy rates, and overall health for residents. The solar power projects, typically funded by microcredit institutions, are assisting in reducing the carbon emissions in India and achieving its goal to double the contribution of renewable energy to 6 percent within the next four years.Now, with solar power providing much needed lighting in the evenings, a variety of entrepreneurs are able to extend their work hours, and increase their productivity. With this increase in income, they are able to improve not only their businesses, but also their health and socio-economic status. One example is Ramiben Waghri, a vegetable seller who took out a loan to buy a solar lantern (costing between $66 – $122, which is about one weeks income). With the extended hours, she says she makes about 300 rupees ($6) more each evening with her lantern.

In India, renewable energy makes up less than 3 percent of the country’s total installed capacity. Providing several hours of light at night after being charged by the sun during the day, these solar cookers and lanterns will facilitate the movement to cut dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

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