Off the grid

[Lamplighter]

Here's a nice story about technology off the grid.

As I read the article, I was first impressed by the impact of the cell phone.
It seemed paradoxical that these Kenyen villagers were without electricity,
yet they had already adopted the cell phone into their daily lives and depended on it.

This made a good impression on me, because they had adopted what worked for them:
the small solar panel, a cell phone recharger, and a few LED lights.
But of course, to the outsiders it was a matter of how to build a business model,
how to build a "bigger" mouse trap, how to make more money.
Yes, refrigeration is needed, but first steps first mean using whatever
gives the biggest impact for the smallest cost and is available now.


NY Times
African Huts Far From the Grid Glow With Renewable Power

Since Ms. Ruto hooked up the system,
her teenagers’ grades have improved because they have light for studying.
The toddlers no longer risk burns from the smoky kerosene lamp.
And each month, she saves $15 in kerosene and battery costs
— and the $20 she used to spend on travel
[Edit:to sell eggs and get her cell phone charged ! ].
In fact, neighbors now pay her 20 cents to charge their phones,
although that business may soon evaporate:
63 families in Kiptusuri have recently installed their own solar power systems.

In Kiptusuri, the Firefly LED (light) system purchased by Ms. Ruto is this year’s must-have item.
The smallest one, which costs $12, consists of a solar panel that can be placed in a window
or on a roof and is connected to a desk lamp and a phone charger.
Slightly larger units can run radios and black-and-white television sets.