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When did you last think about the SUN – that giant ball of hydrogen in our sky. Is it sunny outside today? Even if it’s a grey rainy day the SUN is still keeping our planet warm and provides us with light to see by. Life wouldn’t exist on planet earth without the SUN.
Can you imagine your life without electric lights? Would you go to bed when the Sun sets; be able to get dressed in the morning before the Sun has risen; read or do your homework by candlelight? Lights are incredibly useful but they can also contribute to climate change if they use electricity which comes from burning fossil fuels.
Your challenge this week is to become the family ‘light zapper’ and make sure ALL lights are switched off when they’re not needed! Which lights get left on unnecessarily in your house? Is it the bathroom light or the living room light? Do you need to switch them on in the morning? If you open your curtains when you first get up, you might be surprised how bright the sunlight is! Read on to learn more about how solar projects can help us combat climate change.
Are you feeling curious? What else could we do by harnessing the power of the Sun? Fire up your imagination, discuss ideas with your friends, chat to your parents/teachers?
Maybe check out what 14 year old Vinisha Umashankar’s been up to in India where ironing vendors usually use an iron box filled with hot charcoal. She has invented a solar-powered ironing cart that is helping to reduce air pollution and our impact on climate change. She was an Earthshot Prize finalist - here is a short film clip about her solar iron project.
You could also find out more about charities that are helping parts of Africa harness solar power. Around 600 million people in Africa do not yet have access to electricity in their homes despite the potential for solar energy on the continent. They rely on smoky kerosene lamps which are expensive, produce poor light, cause respiratory illnesses AND produce carbon emissions. SolarAid is a charity that provides access to renewable solar lights in some of the most remote regions of Africa, particularly Malawi and Zambia. This video tells the story of an 11 year old Tanzanian boy and his new solar light.
When you’ve enjoyed thinking about the potential for solar projects, and embraced the role of family light zapper then HIT THE RED BUTTON!
