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Reduces kerosene-induced fires
Kerosene lamps are a serious fire hazard in the developing world, killing and maiming tens of thousands of people each year. Kerosene, diesel fuel and gasoline stored for lamps and small generators are also a safety threat, whereas solar electric light is entirely safe.
Improves indoor air quality
Fumes from kerosene lamps in poorly ventilated houses are a serious health problem in much of the world where electric light is unavailable. The World Bank estimates that 780 million women and children breathing kerosene fumes inhale the equivalent of smoke from 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
Increases effectiveness of health programs
Use of a solar electric lighting systems by rural health centers increases the quality of health care provided. Solar electric systems improve patient diagnoses through brighter task lighting and use of electrically-lit microscopes. Photovoltaics can also power televisions and VCRs to educate health workers and patients about preventative care, medical procedures, and other health care provisions. Finally, solar electric refrigerators have a higher degree of temperature control than kerosene units, leading to lower vaccine spoilage rates, and increased immunization
effectiveness.
Allows telemedicine
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technology to provide, enhance, or expedite health
care services, by accessing off-site databases, linking clinics or
physicians' offices to central hospitals, or transmitting x-rays or other
diagnostic images for examination at another site. Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, SELF demonstrated the feasibility of telemedicine in remote areas by using a combination of solar power and satellite communications. Within moments of plugging in the new telemedicine device, local Caboclo Indians can have meaurements of blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, and blood-oxygen uploaded via satellite to the University of Southern Alabama for remote diagnosis.
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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.
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