I ran across this article about an entrepreneurial project that promotes clean energy use in poor neighborhoods in Cairo. Here's an older NPR story about the same project and another from National Geographic (ok, I'm obviously late to this story, nonetheless. . . ).The basic idea is to find local solutions for a local problem. The problem is that Cairo's poor have erratic energy supplies. Social entrepreneurs Thomas and Sybille Culhane partner with local people to build solar-powered hot water heaters and biogas generators that use kitchen and other waste to make gas for cooking, using recycled local materials. Because the devices are installed at a home, the problem of erratic supply is solved (so long as the machines work, the sun shines, and people generate waste).
The local solution is that local people -- a pipe cutter, or welder, or maybe a carpenter -- help design and build the devices. The water heater, for example, is typically installed on a roof top. Local knowledge of what a rooftop can bear or what materials are easily and cheaply available helps make the project more sustainable (though I note that the project has received funding from USAID).
You can learn more about the Culhanes' project, Solar CITIES, at their blog.
If you're visiting Cairo you can even check out a Solar CITIES tour.
Right now, the Egyptian government heavily subsidizes gas and electricity purchases, so it's not especially sensible for the poor to invest in building the heaters and the generators BUT as subsidies are phased out over the next few years the incentive to invest (if not the ability to access credit) will shift and this might turn into a for-profit venture. People respond to incentives and they will happily turn to clean energy when it becomes a cost-effective alternative to more traditional energy sources.
(Photo is from http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/03/bench-subirrigation-on-a-cairo-rooftop.html).
- Karol
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