Benefits of Solar: EDUCATIONAL

Improves literacy
Solar rural electrification improves literacy by providing high quality electric reading lights. Electric lighting is far brighter than kerosene lighting or candles. Use of solar electric light aids students in studying during evening hours.

Increases access to news and information
Photovoltaics give rural areas access to news and educational programming through television and radio broadcasts. With the advent of television and radio, people previously cut off from electronic information, education, and entertainment can become part of the modern world without leaving home.

Enables evening education classes
Ongoing education classes and adult literacy classes can be held during the evening in solar-lit community centers. SELF has electrified community centers and schools in many countries, and has witnessed the development of adult literacy and professional classes possible with the introduction of solar electric lighting systems in community centers.

Facilitates wireless rural telephony
Solar electricity, when coupled with wireless communications, makes it possible to introduce rural telephony and data communication services to remote villages.

A study for the U.S. government calculated that the gasoline equivalent of the energy saved over the lifetime of one 24-watt compact fluorescent bulb is sufficient to drive a Prius from New York to San Francisco.