{"id":4780,"date":"2024-07-18T14:11:26","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T17:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peabiru.org.br\/?page_id=4780"},"modified":"2024-07-18T14:11:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T17:11:26","slug":"light-for-a-better-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/light-for-a-better-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Light for a Better Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Initiative offers low-cost sustainable energy access to isolated communities in the Amazon<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Light for a Better Life Program\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/J1AZzJmMEgg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>IDEAAS (Portuguese acronym for Institute for the Development of Alternative Energies and Self-Sustainability, in free translation) and Instituto Peabiru present the Light for a Better Life program, supported by C.S. Mott Foundation. This initiative is dedicated to serving social groups with low-income and a high level of energy exclusion.<\/p>\n<p>The partnership also involves GEDAE, a study group for the development of alternative energies from the Federal University of Par\u00e1 &#8211; UFPA; MMIB, a Women&#8217;s Movement from the Bel\u00e9m Islands; and the local church &#8211; Parish of St. Francis of the Islands.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4525\" style=\"width: 863px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4525\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4525\" style=\"background-color: initial; text-align: center;\" src=\"https:\/\/peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0023.jpg\" alt=\"170719-peabiru-0023\" width=\"853\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0023.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0023-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0023-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0023-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4525\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Today solar panels that generate energy for the lighting of houses can be seen along the Jamaci River. Community Nossa Senhora da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o, Paquet\u00e1 Island, Bel\u00e9m, PA. July 2017. Photo: Rafael Araujo.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>The first action<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Light for a Better Life begins with the installation of autonomous energy service systems for 22 homes and a religious center in the Nossa Senhora da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Community, Ilha de Paquet\u00e1, Bel\u00e9m. The site was chosen based on research conducted in 2014 by Instituto Peabiru by recommendation of MMIB, which highlighted the vulnerability of these families in terms of energy insecurity.<\/p>\n<p>The technology installed to light these residences is what IDEAAS calls the &#8220;bakana solar&#8221; kit. This kit has been prepared to meet local demands for: 1. basic residential lighting; 2. cellphone charging; and 3. bulb to keep bats away (lit all night). These are simple solutions, but with a high impact on the families\u2019 quality of life.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4550\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4550\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4550\" src=\"https:\/\/peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0019.jpg\" alt=\"170719-peabiru2-0019\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0019.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0019-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0019-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0019-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Control box, containing the battery of the &#8220;Bakana Solar&#8221; Kit, installed inside a residence in the in the N.Sra.da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Community, Bel\u00e9m, PA. July 2017. Photo: Rafael Araujo.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>The &#8216;Bakana Solar&#8217; kit<\/strong> is the result of two decades of research and development of energy solutions of low cost and easy installation, mainly directed to isolated rural populations&#8221;, says Fabio Rosa, from IDEAAS.<\/p>\n<p>The project innovates by proposing a condominium to promote self-management of the system. Thus, each beneficiary contributes a small monthly amount, which is kept by a person chosen by the community. The idea is to gather funds to finance the exchange of batteries scheduled for every 2 or 3 years, and for eventual maintenance (exchange of lamps, fuses, etc.). The life expectancy of the solar panel is two decades.<\/p>\n<p>Another concern of the <strong>Light for a Better Life<\/strong> is to seek the greatest possible autonomy of the installed systems. Thus, one of the actions is to train local actors for technical support, which stimulates the development of the local productive chain of sustainable energies.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4562\" style=\"width: 863px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4562\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4562\" src=\"https:\/\/peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0105.jpg\" alt=\"170719-peabiru-0105\" width=\"853\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0105.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0105-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0105-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru-0105-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4562\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Local family demonstrates the operation of the \u201cBakana Solar\u201d kit. Notice the control panel to the right. Community <\/em><em>N.Sra.da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em><em>, Paquet\u00e1 Island, Bel\u00e9m, PA. July 2017. Photo: Rafael Araujo.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Potential of the program<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Light for a Better Life<\/strong> demonstrates that it is possible to meet basic energy needs of those not currently contemplated by public policies, such as the federal program <em>Light for All<\/em>. In the Brazilian Amazon alone, there are more than 1 million families in rural areas, mainly from traditional peoples and communities. Most suffer from a high degree of energy exclusion. This has serious consequences for their lives, especially for the most vulnerable groups &#8211; children, young people and women &#8211; in terms of health, education and income-generating opportunities, not to mention access to basic items of modern life such as refrigerator, television, telephone and computer.<\/p>\n<p>According to Jo\u00e3o Meirelles, from Instituto Peabiru, &#8220;sustainable energy solutions like this can guarantee immediate access to low-cost energy for every family in the rural Amazon, and even all around Brazil.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4560\" style=\"width: 863px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4560\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4560\" style=\"background-color: initial; text-align: center;\" src=\"https:\/\/peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0035.jpg\" alt=\"170719-peabiru2-0035\" width=\"853\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0035.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0035-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0035-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/170719-peabiru2-0035-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4560\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Ms Maria at the door of her home, next to the solar panel, among the a\u00e7ai trees. <\/em><em>Community <\/em><em>Nossa Senhora da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em><em>, Paquet\u00e1 Island, Bel\u00e9m, PA. July 2017. Photo: Rafael Araujo.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4747\" src=\"https:\/\/peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/logos.png\" alt=\"logos\" width=\"812\" height=\"124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/logos.png 812w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/logos-300x46.png 300w, https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/logos-768x117.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 812px) 100vw, 812px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/luz-para-uma-uma-vida-melhor\/\">here<\/a> for information about the project in Portuguese.<\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qFUQlIbR4zA&amp;feature=youtu.be\">here to watch a v\u00eddeo about the project (with English subtitles)<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IDEAAS (Portuguese acronym for Institute for the Development of Alternative Energies and Self-Sustainability, in free translation) and Instituto Peabiru present the Light for a Better Life program<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4525,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4780","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4780"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14660,"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4780\/revisions\/14660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peabiru.org.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}