This story is part of a special series to explore energy issues.
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On January 12, Haitian businessman Alex George recalled darkness and light after the earthquake. From the Port-au-
George remembered that the Prince's house where he met with his business partners was in chaos: human suffering and a thick cloud of dust, which he could not see across the street.
But he also saw this in the evening, although the shaking city has no electricity, but there is a bright light Island under the solar energy
His company installed electric street lamps in two sports fields.
People were attracted by this light and began to set up camps there.
George believes that solar energy can not only provide temporary shelters for Haitians,
He believes that this is a permanent gospel for the poor Caribbean nation. As the co-
Founder of ENERSA (
Change of energy. A. ), a three-year-old Port-au-
Prince business has produced and sold more than 500 LED solar street lamps in 58 towns and villages across the island with battery storage, george is one of the advocates and entrepreneurs pushing for more use of solar, renewable and other small energy
The energy scale of Haiti's reconstruction.
Today, delegates from hundreds of countries have held an important meeting at the United Nations to organize reconstruction commitments, and renewable energy advocates have been urging rescue organizations to direct aid to not just rebuilding Haiti's old power delivery system.
Before the earthquake, Haiti had the lowest power supply in the world, with only 12.
5% of population in 9 million and power grid connected.
Those who have money rely on small diesel generators to generate electricity.
The price of diesel fuel has soared after the earthquake, making it impossible for most Haitians to get electricity in this form.
Why support people with variable and operational costs of diesel?
Asked Jamie Shah, chief executive of the Carbon War Room, a climate change advocacy group founded by Virgin Atlantic billionaire Richard Branson.
His team calculated that the cost of installing solar and other small power systems across Haiti was $0. 4 billion, a fraction of $11.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 5 billion of reconstruction funds
Moon is calling for the next decade.
Vijay Modi, an energy system expert at Columbia University's Earth Institute, is committed to advancing sustainable development, saying that renewable energy can indeed play a direct role in meeting Haiti's electricity needs.
But in addition to the lighting and mobile phone charging solutions that solar energy can provide, there is an urgent need for cooking energy in Haiti.
Speaking of home cooking needs, Modi believes that distributing kerosene or propane will help people in the short term.
He believes that in the long run, more sustainable land management practices should be focused to provide wood and charcoal traditionally used for sea iron cooking, which can be recycled at the time of management.
Renewable energy advocates working on the ground in Haiti agree that wood and charcoal cooking will continue to be more effective in the short term, despite the fact that bio-charcoal (
Charcoal from agricultural waste)
It could be a more eco-friendly solution.
They are also concerned about the use of kerosene lighting in the short term because, in addition to harmful smoke, its impact on the climate is more direct, and the fire danger is very serious in the tent camp where many Haitians now live.
As a matter of fact, the tent camp has turned to solar energy, another pressing security need.
Shortly after the earthquake, Richenda Van Leeuwen, a renewable energy acquisition expert in Washington, D. C. C.
Donated by the good energy foundation of 6,500 solar lighting systems that can now be used in tents and later moved to a new home.
Van Levan, who is currently working on rescue operations in Haiti, said lighting is critical to addressing the attack.
Just last week, Amnesty International reported that sexual violence against women and girls was widespread in the camps and called for more action by emergency relief workers and authorities.
At least 35,000 solar light systems have been distributed so far to improve the lighting of the camp, van Leeuwen said, and IOM has ordered more than 30,000, particularly to help protect women and girls.
With the dilapidated infrastructure of the Sea rail and the funding raised around the world, many see this as the ideal time to deploy new impetus for Haiti.
Last summer, for example, in a clinic in bukankaré, Haiti, a nonprofit health partner successfully installed the solar system.
Although the clinic maintains the diesel generator system as a backup and ensures reliable power in the operating room as well as x-
Its diesel costs have been cut.
In fact, after the earthquake, partners asked Washington, D. C. C. -
Solar Fund (SELF)
With partial support from the good energy Foundation on the Boucan Carré project, the foundation has accelerated plans to install solar energy in five other clinics in Haiti.
"Maintenance is very low, there is no local pollution, there is no carbon dioxide, there is no noise," said Bob Ferlin, self-executive director . ".
We did not give up diesel completely, but reduced our dependence on diesel.
It really gives people strength.
There are other solar contributions to empower. Texas-
FTL Solar donated three large Solar tents for charity use;
These provide not only light, but also a source of income, as charities will be able to make money by setting up stations where people can pay to charge their phones or batteries.
Green Galaxy corporate president, renewable energy activist and filmmaker Nicole Hansen helped coordinate the donation, and she remembers seeing solar tents at the movie scene she was making all over Hollywood.
Job opportunities, but Georges from ENERSA and colleagues from the companyfounder Jean-
Ronel Noel believes that in addition to donating finished solar products, Haiti also needs funds to build its own capacity to manufacture and install solar systems.
After studying engineering, business administration and solar manufacturing in Canada, the two have trained 18 young people as solar technicians and are training another 10 in the hope of expanding their workforce.
Not only did ENERSA's workers make solar panels, lights, charging stations and street lights, they also took them to such remote villages that the equipment had to be dragged by donkeys. âx80x9cIt is life-
For those who don't have electricity to change, so that they can get solar energy, says George.
Children can learn and parents can meet and socialize after dark.
You can change the life of the community immediately.
The enersa factory s factory, which was damaged in the earthquake, will resume production this week.