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dc.contributor.advisorTimothy Gutowski.en_US
dc.contributor.authorDave, Shreya Hen_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-28T15:34:25Z
dc.date.available2010-04-28T15:34:25Z
dc.date.copyright2009en_US
dc.date.issued2008en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54450
dc.descriptionThesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.en_US
dc.descriptionCataloged from PDF version of thesis.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 37-38).en_US
dc.description.abstractAccess to electricity in developing countries is minimal and if available, often unreliable. As a result, fuel-based kerosene lighting is the most common solution to lighting necessities. However, kerosene combustion affects indoor air quality and relies on a non-renewable fossil fuel subject to price volatility. Thus, solar lanterns are being introduced to developing markets, but incur their own energy and emissions intensity from more complex manufacturing processes and requirements. Life cycle assessments examine the energy required and the emissions released over the entire existence of a product or process to allow for quantitative comparison among technology options. The results from a "cradle-to-user" life cycle assessment of the lighting options are displayed in Figure 1 below ... The values reported do not clearly indicate that it is a sustainable decision to transition to solar-based lighting from the conventional use of kerosene combustion. However, understanding the data presents further opportunities for reducing the impact of lighting. The economic payback time of a solar lantern, the distribution emissions in location and time, and the challenges of implementation on a large scale are among these critical review considerations.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Shreya H. Dave.en_US
dc.format.extent38 p.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582en_US
dc.subjectMechanical Engineering.en_US
dc.titleLife cycle assessment of off-grid lighting applications : kerosene vs. solar lanternsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeS.B.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
dc.identifier.oclc551147721en_US


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