Impact of Kerosene
More than one billion people have no access to electricity. For these people to be able to provide themselves necessities such as lighting and warmth they often must burn dirty fossil fuels that are not only bad for the environment but are potentially dangerous and cause numerous health problems. One of the most common forms of lighting in absence of electricity is kerosene. Over 500 million families in the developing world use kerosene for lighting, heating and cooking.
Studies show that exposure to fossil fuel combustion products can cause a wide range of health problems such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, low birth weights, cataracts, pneumonia and tuberculosis. The use of these fuels causes higher rates of impaired lung function, infectious illness, asthma and cancer in these communities. The World Health Organisation estimates that breathing in kerosene fumes is the equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes per day. Given that about 1/4 of these communities are made up of children, that’s more than 100 million children inhaling the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes per day!
Kerosene lamps are also dangerous. They are often used in confined spaces in poor or crowded communities leading to high risks of fires and burns. Lamps can be knocked over or a gust of wind is easily able to increase wick size and ignite clothing. This has resulted in many fire events and serious, sometimes even fatal burns.
Kerosene is also expensive and in many cases time consuming to obtain. This mother in Tanzania walks over six miles and spends more than one quarter of her family's income to obtain kerosene to cook and provide light for her family. Sadly, stories like this are not uncommon across the developing world and similar examples could be found amongst the 100s of millions of families of the global poor. If only there was a better option that does not take such a devastating toll on people’s health and finances.
Fortunately there is a safer and much cleaner alternative to kerosene lamps - electricity. A basic necessity that many take for granted. Yet in locations without adequate infrastructure this is not an option. This is where Powerwells comes in. While electricity is often cheap it requires large scale infrastructure investment to be built and maintained. Small scale solar is a stepping stone solution to bring safe and sustainable power to millions living without electricity. Through our recycled battery program we are able to provide many households, in countries such as Indonesia, with a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to kerosene lamps.
By Lachlan Baxter
Lighting a Kerosene Lantern in Sumba, Indonesia. Prior to the installation of a PowerWell Home Solar System.