A resident of Curitiba developed a pole powered by solar energy that could change the lives of several people who do not have access to public lighting. The objective is to spread the initiative in several communities

Entrepreneur and environmentalist Diego Saldanha developed a pole powered by solar energy to illuminate the community where he lives, in Colombo, in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba (PR). The initiative began to be debated a few months ago, until Diego and his locksmith friend, Marcelo, decided to put the project into practice. According to Marcelo Quintilhano, Diego asked him what could be done, and the locksmith replied: “man, I can help, you provide me with the material and I provide my labor.”

Idea is born from difficulties in everyday life

According to Marcelo, the two embraced the cause together and will do good in their community in the Curitiba region, in addition to passing the idea on. The first pole was put up about a week ago, and quickly attracted the attention of the local press.

According to Diego, the initiative arose in the face of a difficulty: the street where they live is private and does not have public lighting, becoming completely dark at night. To solve the problem, solar panels were installed that generate electricity for the pole powered by solar energy.

The pole has a power LED of 180 Watts on a metal pipe 4 meters high, which illuminates everything around it very well, not falling behind the common poles. This is yet another of Diego's initiatives, which 6 years ago developed a ecobarrier to clean the Atuba River, in Curitiba, which runs past his house. Since then, tons of garbage have been collected and the project has been improved. The environmentalist ended up being recognized for the initiative and won several awards.

Solar powered pole can leave Curitiba and benefit other communities

Before the installation of the solar-powered pole, the entire area with 11 houses where Diego and Marcelo live was completely dark at night and, after the innovation arrived, as soon as it got dark, everything became brighter.

The common area is a kind of private street, where public lighting does not enter. With the backyard lit up, now several children can play well into the night. This is an innovation that Diego seeks to bring to other backyards and other communities in need, in addition to Curitiba.

This is a pilot project developed on his street, with his own resources, and Diego's idea is to publicize it so that supporters and sponsors emerge, making the idea of ​​taking the project forward possible, to other regions that do not have access to public lighting.

Diego points out that he needs help to expand this project, which is why he is starting on his street, showing that the cost is low in relation to the comfort and safety it brings to residents.

Other innovative projects that bring solar energy to underprivileged communities

A Robin of Light is an initiative developed to benefit people who live in more remote areas and without access to basic services, such as, for example, electricity. The project began in 2017 and, since then, has already benefited several families in the Kalunga community who lived without electricity in Cavalcante, Goiás.

The project came about through an experience that André Viegas, a businessman from Brasília, witnessed when he visited the community to carry out volunteer work.

André noticed that the cell phone flashlight was the only way to see something at night. The businessman's first idea was to take advantage of solar energy, which is extremely abundant in Brazil.