Socio - Economical / Environmental Impact
NEST’s primary principle is to help deliver socio-economic and environmental benefits at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) population.
Socio-Economic Impact:
Solar lamps have replaced smoke and fumes emission from kerosene hurricanes. As a consequence there has been a significant reduction of indoor air pollution. NEST solar lamps and other solar lighting products eliminate the health hazard to those who use them. Women feel a sense of security when they use solar lamps. The brightness of light from solar lamps is about 10 times more (in Lumens) compared to the traditional kerosene lamps, which thereby reduces strain on eyes while reading, sewing, cooking etc. The risk of exposure to open fire from wick lantern is also eliminated.
Household businesses using the solar lamps have managed to augment their
income, at least, by 15-20%. Women use lighting to extend hours of family
businesses like tailoring. Men use lighting in their retail shops in market,
getting extra hours of sales. Increased hours available for study by children
and elders have enhanced family’s long-term social and economic health.
Remarkable awareness about the use and benefits of solar lantern has instilled a sense of pride in the village individual, has made him/her more comfortable and has given him the required confidence to bring about changes in his living conditions essential for surviving in the modern world. Women have begun to enjoy more self-esteem, as well as a sense of importance in the well being of their families and their community.
Environmental Impact:
Kerosene poses two major risks, one that of soot/smoke and the other being fire risk. The huts getting burned in villages due to open flame is a common phenomenon, however NEST’s solar lanterns are clean and safe to use. The carbon monoxide liberated due to the burning of huts’ wood and bamboos, which otherwise pollute the village atmosphere, also come under control. The urban street hawkers who have replaced their kerosene pressurised lanterns with solar lanterns, are now able to mitigate the carbon di-oxide liberated into the atmosphere.
Globally 90 bn litres of kerosene is burnt annually. If this consumption of kerosene for lighting purposes is avoided in the rural households then 260 mn tonnes of CO2 can be mitigated and even sequestered.