From Guest Blogger Danny Paradee: LED Lighting – A Solution for Developing Countries

The world’s poorest countries are investing more in LED lighting, energy storage, and other off-grid electricity technologies, according to a report by Larry West.

 In cities across the United States, LED lighting like LED wall packs or LED bollards help cut energy costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and excessive light pollution. But in developing countries, LEDs are changing lives.

Did you know 1 billion residents in developing countries live without access to reliable electricity? Because of this, LED lighting is continuing to be a huge solution for rural areas across the world. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are far more efficient than other sources of light, including incandescent, halogen, or fluorescent. The decreasing costs of solar energy, lighting and energy storage technologies make LED lighting a viable option. (In many areas, this often replaces kerosene lamps and fires fueled by animal waste.)

In the past decade, off-grid solar power, LED lighting and energy storage installations in the developing world have increased from zero to 4 million. This presents a huge opportunity for lighting companies, big and small. Philips plans to install 100 Community Light Centers across Africa by 2015 using LED lighting as part of their “Philips Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow.” Smaller startup companies are also jumping on the bandwagon. SunEdison installed a 14-kilowatt solar-powered microgrid for 400 villagers living in a remote enclave of Meerwada, India, as part of its Eradication of Darkness Program, according to SmartPlanet.com. In the future, they plan to light villages in India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Energy efficiency is beneficial for residents without access to electricity, but it’s also a helpful change for anyone wanting to cut back energy, save money, and contribute to a healthier environment.