African nations have limitless opportunities in providing solar energy to its people. Long days and effective sunlight equals Fatima, Alseny and Ethel keeping their businesses open all day if they choose. Schools having electricity all day long will allow students to learn in the day time as well as evening. I personally have been traveling to Africa at least twice a year since 1999. The electricity situation leaves a lot to be desired. Want to write a long email at the Internet? Think again. Write your email in advance then cut and paste into your email window. Electricity is “not sure” therefore it can go off at anytime for an unknown duration. Leaving that unfinished email in “webland” and your thoughts stuck on “no not again, and what had happen was….”. We can’t even talk about picking up our clothes from the tailor. Now if you have the privilege to have a generator you will be fine. But it’s not about you it’s about all of us, a nation, a continent, a world.
Courtesy of NREL for MSYInternational
Well what exactly can Solar Energy do for an African country?
Solar power of street lights, lamps, refrigerators, and general solar connectivity to homes and businesses can have profound advantages on the local and national communities of each African nation.
This is 2010 Solar Energy has been around for decades and I’m not including ancient antiquity. There’s no reason why everyone can’t have Solar. Now, let’s keep it positive. Let’s be about solutions and be proactive in getting more Solar to African nations.
Real ways to use Solar with real results:
Before:Kerosene lamps causes fires. After: Solar light for the home, no more kerosene lamps causing fires and generating bad fumes into the air causing sickness and lowering the quality of life.
Before: No light, Moonlight (yes, moonlight is a gift from God). After: Solar Street lights to allow families in rural areas to work longer in the fields if they choose.
Before: No light in schools. After: Solar light in schools increases literacy, higher scores on exams.
Before: No electricity throughout the city. After: Increase in business production adding to better a economy.
Overall by choosing to use solar powered lights and by choosing solar power as an energy source we choose to: Lessen health problems associated with fumes of Kerosene lamps in non-ventilated homes. the possibility of someone being burned by kerosene lamps that use lightening fluid (mixture of gasoline and diesel fluid) for lighting use. That is definitely a recipe for disaster. You will constantly need to refill kerosene lamps. The Sun in itself is solar power. When is the last time you had to pay for sunlight?
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