Solar Lanterns as an alternative means of energy in rural homes

  

Date Posted: 8/7/2013 1:34:59 AM

Posted By: wishstar  Membership Level: Gold  Total Points: 7507

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Living without reliable lighting limits the productivity of nearly a quarter of the world’s population. For most people in rural areas, work ends at sunset due to an inefficient form of lighting that they use. To be more precise, most rural homesteads use kerosene lamps as the preferred method of lighting. The limitations that these kerosene lamps hinder the resident from achieving their full productivity. The kerosene lamps are simply not efficient for any kind of meaningful work. Kerosene lamps also are dangerous to people as they produce emissions that may affect their health. They can also result into fire due to them overturning.

Forced termination of work due to inappropriate lighting and the direct impact on human well-being are not the only challenges that arise as a result of using kerosene lamps as these lamps result to greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere. Greenhouse effect is one of the major global concerns thereby making it imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. Provision of a good alternative to kerosene lamps is a step towards reducing these harmful emissions.

With the current state of the economy, where we see cities doing as much as possible to transform into 24 hour economies, an appropriate and efficient form of lighting is required. This form of lighting should be able to produce sufficient light, be environmentally friendly and as well be cost effective. The one form that sums it all up is electricity. Electricity may be generated in different ways and also be comparatively easier to transmit to one place as compared to another. However, with Kenya being located in the equatorial region, meaning sufficient amount of sun, a more easier method of electricity generation presents itself.
This is the use of solar cells.
Since the concern is on rural areas,

solar lanterns should be a good alternative to replace kerosene lamps. The advantages that are brought forth include:
1. They improve quality of life by decreasing health risks.
The issue of fumes produced by kerosene lamps is resolved by the use of kerosene lamps.
2. They increase hours for income generating activities.
Solar lighting allows rural families to extend their workday into the evening hours.
3. They provide higher quality light for studying at night.
People can read after dark more easily than they can by kerosene lamps.
4. In the long run, they are cost effective.
5. They produce good color quality.
6. They have better portability.
7. They are environmentally friendly as they don’t produce greenhouse gases.
Use of solar electric systems reduces the amount of local air pollution. With the decrease in the amount of kerosene used for lighting, there is a corresponding reduction in the amount of local pollution produced.
Solar lanterns produce electric power with no carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon offset is calculated at approximately 6 tons of carbon dioxide over the twenty year life of one PV cell.
8. Reduces maintenance costs
Use of a solar light rather than kerosene lamps reduces the time and expenses of refueling and maintenance.
9. Solar lanterns save energy.
Solar electricity for the third world is clearly the most effective energy conservation programs because it conserves the costly conventional sources of power.
10. Improves fire reduction
Kerosene lamps are a serious fire hazard to the developing world, killing tens of thousands of people every year. Solar lanterns come as a safe alternative to kerosene lamps.

Proper projects should be set up in order to ensure rural homes are well lit and the reduction and eventual elimination of kerosene lamps as a means of lighting. The distribution of solar lanterns is by far the most convenient way to ensure the success of such a venture. With the aforementioned advantages, it can be clearly seen that we have a natural renewable resource at our disposal. The only thing remaining is to exploit and use it for our benefits.

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