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Energy Poverty

posted on May 24, 2012

Three weeks ago if you asked me if I had ever heard of the phrase “energy poverty” I would have said no. I’m betting most of you reading this are thinking the same thing.

But, ever since I visited Ghana with ONE and have been spending more time getting educated on all that they do and care about it is one of the issues that has really stuck with me and that I can’t kick out of my brain.

Energy Poverty is quite simply, that many people in the world don’t have access to affordable, safe and reliable electricity. When the sun goes down, they are in the dark.

Really, stop and think about that for a moment.

Let your mind digest how much harder teaching school, running a business, treating sick people or keeping your family happy and healthy would become.

What would happen to a continent like Africa, that is full of riches both below the ground and walking the land, if it no longer suffered from this? Imagine how over time they would not just sustain themselves, but prosper and thrive.

I was at ONE headquarters yesterday in Washington, DC and we talked about about The Energy Poverty Challenge they have going and I really hope you’ll take the time to become informed, but more importantly share your thoughts on the matter.

When I look at products like the BioLite stove (can’t wait for mine to arrive) and other innovations happening in this space I get excited. We need a lot more minds focused in this direction because while it may be an issue in only third world countries, the whole world has energy problems even if we don’t want admit it.

I’m up for the challenge, are you?

 

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Categories: ONE
  • http://stevegarfield.com Steve Garfield

    The BioLite stove, when getting away from it all, means making sure you can charge up your iPhone. #ironic

    I get it though.  Very cool idea.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Actually, I can’t imagine doing that.

      But, during a long term power outage? Totally could see the use.

    • http://raulcolon.net/ Raul Colon

      I also saw it from the perspective of Power Outage. We live on an Island and on many occasions we lose power. 

      In some hurricanes we have spent weeks without energy. This might solve multiple problems. 

  • http://raulcolon.net/ Raul Colon

    @cc_chapman:disqus  I started thinking about Energy Poverty when I read the book “Common Wealth” and Thomas Friedman’s Hot, Flat, and Crowded which dug into energy and how many people are not aware of the complete process to get energy from its initial source to the outlet you plug your devices into. 

    Will watch the video! 

  • Dawn Allcot

     Excellent post! The solar community is actually doing quite a bit to combat energy poverty. It was the topic of a recent #SolarChat on Twitter, a  twice-monthly chat I’m involved with through EcoOutfitters. I hope you don’t mind my sharing. Really glad I found your blog and looking forward to getting to know you! http://www.ecooutfitters.net/blog/2012/03/solarchat-31412-discovers-how-%E2%80%9Clight-transforms-lives/

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Sounds pretty cool.

      My wife and I just had a sun room added to our house in the fall and I tried everywhere to find information on how we could incorporate solar power into it’s roof. It is perfect because it gets a constant arc of sunshine all throughout the day, but here in Massachusettes I couldn’t find the information or service I needed. Is this something your company knows about?

  • http://the-quiet-corner.blogspot.com/ Korinthia

    This was something I wasn’t particularly aware of.  Thanks for the interesting post!