Bringing Solar Light to the Energy Poor
Bringing Solar Light to the Energy Poor
More than 1.3 billion people around the world live without electricity. Another 1 billion endure prolonged periods without power, up to 18 hours per day. Most of them are in the developing world in countries such as Nepal.
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The first idea is this: a solution to the problem of kerosene. That solution is solar LED lightingsmall, portable, bright, renewable, and inexpensive (the payback is less than one year and its cheaper than kerosene per unit of energy).
The second idea is this: a pathway to make the solution a reality; namely, distribution for the solar lights. EGs name hints at that pathway
empower. Specifically, EG is empowering entrepreneurial women to take the lead. In the developing world, women tend to be responsible for finding energy for the householdthey collect firewood and buy kerosene, cook over the dangerous fuel, and light the house.
This marriage of two ideasclean energy and womens empowermentis a reflection of Cohen and Cherneff as a couple. He worked at RMI from 20082010 as the Assistant to the Chief Scientist and is now at Shells Corporate Venture group working on alternative energy investments. She earned a masters in international human rights. They founded Empower Generation in 2011 and got married in 2012.
Now theyre bringing clean energy to the people who need it, not through charity, but via small businesses run by women...
http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2013_04_08_bringing_solar_light_to_the_energy_poor