Posted on 07/08/2019 12:18:41
How cheaper household appliances are leading to more solar energy access in Africa
Remember the days when HD televisions were at least £3,000 just to get a measly 42”? Or how about when a fridge was nearly the price of a used car? Well, you can rest easy, those days are long gone.
40” TVs in the UK can be found for less than £500 and perfectly functional fridges are routinely replaced with newer and bigger models. Cheaper consumer goods are now a staple of developed economies, something that has certainly made our lives easier. But we’re not the only ones enjoying the results of these changes.
Many people in Africa are now enjoying home access to these appliances for the first time. The costs of electrical appliances have reduced by over 85% in the last 5 years and this has allowed people who had never before dreamed of owning a television in their home a world of new opportunities. Now they have the chance to access a constant stream of information and entertainment that people in other countries have had for over 50 years.
We all know we would be upset if our power company spontaneously turned off our electricity for no reason. We have so many things to miss out on. No more social media, no more Graham Norton, no more PlayStation, and dare I say it, no more Netflix!
Even items as seemingly simple as lamps and electric fans have been out of reach for families in many parts of Africa. Most of these people are used to their lives without these appliances but imagine the educational and social benefits of getting access to nightly news via television for the first time.
For many people in Africa, the affordability of home appliances that we’ve always taken for granted is nothing short of life-changing. If you can suddenly offer your children the chance to do their homework after sunset for the first time in their life, that’s an opportunity you won’t pass up.
These cheaper appliances are opening a world of opportunities and making a positive impact on the education, health, and even income potential for families in rural Africa. Hospitals can power life-saving equipment, entrepreneurs can buy refrigerators to serve cold drinks in their shops and restaurants, and schools can finally provide adequate classroom light to their students all throughout the day.
All of this is further driving the solar revolution in Africa and improving the lives of millions of people, and it’s only getting warmed up.
40” TVs in the UK can be found for less than £500 and perfectly functional fridges are routinely replaced with newer and bigger models. Cheaper consumer goods are now a staple of developed economies, something that has certainly made our lives easier. But we’re not the only ones enjoying the results of these changes.
Many people in Africa are now enjoying home access to these appliances for the first time. The costs of electrical appliances have reduced by over 85% in the last 5 years and this has allowed people who had never before dreamed of owning a television in their home a world of new opportunities. Now they have the chance to access a constant stream of information and entertainment that people in other countries have had for over 50 years.
We all know we would be upset if our power company spontaneously turned off our electricity for no reason. We have so many things to miss out on. No more social media, no more Graham Norton, no more PlayStation, and dare I say it, no more Netflix!
Even items as seemingly simple as lamps and electric fans have been out of reach for families in many parts of Africa. Most of these people are used to their lives without these appliances but imagine the educational and social benefits of getting access to nightly news via television for the first time.
For many people in Africa, the affordability of home appliances that we’ve always taken for granted is nothing short of life-changing. If you can suddenly offer your children the chance to do their homework after sunset for the first time in their life, that’s an opportunity you won’t pass up.
These cheaper appliances are opening a world of opportunities and making a positive impact on the education, health, and even income potential for families in rural Africa. Hospitals can power life-saving equipment, entrepreneurs can buy refrigerators to serve cold drinks in their shops and restaurants, and schools can finally provide adequate classroom light to their students all throughout the day.
All of this is further driving the solar revolution in Africa and improving the lives of millions of people, and it’s only getting warmed up.
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