In the wake of disasters, rural health could end up running on sunshine 

After insurgents cut off the village of Maiduguri from the power grid, residents started switching to solar energy as a way to power their appliances. For many, using the solar kits have reduced their energy expenses, but, at the same time, they also require more battery maintenance and the upfront cost can be expensive. “It has reduced daily expenses in terms of fueling generators and monthly servicing,” says one resident. “All these things are off my neck.”

As building developers in Kenya design new structures that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, they can look to the Garden City Mall in Nairobi as a successful example. This mixed-use development with shopping, residential, and office spaces uses solar energy, which helps cut energy costs by over 30 million shillings each year. The mall also was the first in the region to receive an international green building certification.

A Czech city leads the way in alternative energy, saving money and improving the air. In Litomerice, solar panels adorn apartment bulidings and serve as a n example to surrounding areas of how communities and governement can work together to improve air quality, all while saving money.

Indigenous groups are working toward energy sovereignty through cooperatives that make energy costs more affordable - especially in rural areas. That process involves an emphasis on solar power, decentralizing resources, and a respect for mother nature.

Indigenous groups are establishing energy sovereignty on tribal lands while simultaneously providing economic development. The transition to solar power has environmental, political, and financial benefits for indigenous communities.

The River Basin Authority, which selects a few locations each year to provide potable water and sanitation interventions, completed development projects in Igbo that improved the community’s quality of life. To facilitate agricultural use of the vast land in the community, the authority constructed an access road to help farmers take their produce from their farms to local markets, where they can sell them to make a sustainable living. They also provided irrigation access and solar-powered boreholes to provide potable water, reducing the risk of water-borne diseases like cholera.

Revision Energy is bringing affordable solar energy to residents of New Hampshire. Nonprofits and investors have joined forces to bring environmentally-friendly energy to homes at a price that is cheaper than traditional energy. Investors are able to reap the solar tax credit.

Tilos, a Greek Island, has implemented a number of policies towards reaching a goal of zero waste. As of now, it recycles 86 percent of its trash, and has cut carbon and created jobs as a result.

Solar energy is a clean, cheap, renewable, and land-efficient resource, making it a valuable technology to scale up in the face of climate concerns and clean energy. Diversifying the supply chain for creating and sourcing solar panels can help make solar energy more reliable when faced with geopolitical and human rights issues.

Louisa County schools in Virginia are delivering internet to students living in rural areas through solar-powered hot spots, built by the school's own students. The hotspot is powered by solar panels and receives internet connectivity through cellular or satellite means. Over 22 units have been placed in accessible places like church parking lots and the school district is sharing its blueprints and instructions with other schools across the state.