Solar lights quickly provide clean, bright light in places where normal electricity is not currently accessible. Nearly 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity­­, most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia.  

In the absence of electricity or solar, many people use kerosene lamps, candles or batteries. These options are not sustainable, dangerous, and very expensive. Africans spend some $10.5 billion a year on kerosene, which has even higher health consequences. Burning kerosene emits toxic fumes and pose a fire hazard. In fact, the WHO estimates 4.3 million people a year die prematurely from the exposure to indoor air pollution. Much of that pollution comes from burning solid fuels for cooking indoors and from kerosene lamps. Tragically, kerosene fires claim an estimated 1 million lives a year. If all that wasn’t bad enough, burning wood and kerosene also emit greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.

We can do better and solar lights can help us get there. However, the upfront cost of solar lights are often cost-prohibitive. By donating personal solar lights through our partnerships, we can help reduce the use of kerosene and eventually help fund larger distributed generation electricity projects in areas of need. Replacing kerosene with renewable lighting is a win-win-win for the environment, health and the economy.