Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania
Abstract
Approximately 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity and use kerosene as a source of light. Solar lighting is a safer and cost effective alternative allowing families to study, work and live without the harmful effects of kerosene. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with staff from a United Kingdom (UK) based charity to explore the social value of solar lighting (n=7). These staff were based in the UK, Malawi, Kenya and Zambia. Two overarching themes: ‘The Social Value of Solar Lighting’ and ’Improving the Sustainability and Economic Viability of Solar Lighting’ illustrated perceived multi-faceted and wide reaching benefits on the micro-level creating positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. Future studies may look to identify the impact that solar lights may have upon the macro-level, and medium to long-term outcomes; and estimated social return on investment in different developing countries
