Solar Liberty Foundation provides renewable energy resources to individuals in need in less developed countries. As our mission evolves, we continually assess ways in which our expertise in solar energy systems can benefit people around the world.
With renewable energy resources, rural areas of less developed nations can improve education, healthcare, economic opportunity and overall quality of life.
SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION
In most rural areas of less developed countries, there is no public electrical grid. If one does exist, outages are frequent, resulting in, at best, intermittent service. Critical services, such as hospitals and schools, often rely on generators run by diesel fuel, an expensive and unreliable method for creating electricity.
Our battery back-up systems use solar photovoltaic panels to convert the sun’s energy into electrical power. A cost- effective, reliable energy source can make a difference in many ways:
- Health clinics can refrigerate medications, utilize laboratory equipment and rely on communication systems.
- Health care providers can use solar-powered lights to see during nighttime births and emergencies.
- Communities can enhance public safety, power water filtration systems and offer charging portals to the residents.
- Schools can connect to the internet, power educational devices and enhance the overall learning experience.
- Orphanages can cook and provide better care for the children with nighttime light.
- Families can safely provide lights for children to study by and charge their mobile devices.
SOLAR WATER FILTRATION
Water is essential to life, but due to population growth and climate change, water sources are being depleted at an unsustainable rate. This issue is compounded in rural areas of less developed nations where piped water systems are rare and access to safe drinking water is limited. Often, people obtain water from dirty, bacteria infested springs, ponds and lakes. Water-borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhea, are common and one of the leading causes of death in young children.
In an effort to mitigate the global water shortage, Solar Liberty Foundation strives to provide villages with clean water through solar water filtration. Our filtration systems purify many gallons of water per hour. Using only the power of the sun, they provide a sustainable, reliable supply of safe drinking water to entire villages.
SOLAR COOKERS
For families in less developed nations, cooking can be a daily struggle. Many stoves are fueled by wood, which requires constant gathering. Not only is firewood collection a time-consuming and dangerous task, but it also contributes significantly to deforestation. Other stoves are fueled by expensive and often unattainable fossil fuels, such as kerosene and charcoal. Both types of stoves create significant indoor air pollution. Inhalation of these toxic emissions has been correlated to a plethora of health concerns.
- They eliminate or reduce reliance on kindling and/or fossil fuels.
- They cost nothing to operate.
- They eliminate the indoor concentration of health-damaging pollutants.
Unlike other solar cookers on the market, our two pot design allows large families and groups to cook a sufficiently-sized meal from a single solar cooking unit. Furthermore, our design is lightweight, durable and water-proof. Solar cooker distribution is always coupled with culturally-sensitive training. If a third party is distributing the solar cooker on behalf of Solar Liberty Foundation, we train that individual or group and require that they thoroughly train the recipient(s).
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to boil, or sterilize, water to make it safe to drink. The process of pasteurization, which kills only organisms that cause harm to humans, occurs when water is heated at 149 F for 6 minutes. Each solar cooker comes with a reusable water purification indicator (WAPI). The WAPI is a small capsule comprised of soybean wax, which melts when the water temperature exceeds 158 F. The melted wax indicates to the user that water pasteurization conditions have been reached.
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
We are passionate about connecting our local community to our global mission. Energy poverty is a pervasive and debilitating issue that many are, unfortunately, unaware of. In an effort to raise awareness, Solar Liberty Foundation frequently speaks at events, elementary schools, universities and churches in Western New York.
For more information on our Knowledge is Power educational series, please contact us.