Carbon Credit for Humanitarian Solar Power

Families in rural Guatemala are replacing kerosene lamps with clean solar light — cutting over 1,100 tons of CO while saving money for food, school, and health. Your support is creating healthier homes and brighter futures

Dear Friend of ATC,

With your support, our Carbon Credit for Humanitarian Solar Power initiative continues to transform lives in Guatemala while protecting our planet. Since our last report, we’ve reached more families, strengthened our partnerships, and set ambitious new goals.

Progress & Milestones

• 20 New Installations: Families received both solar lighting and water filters, prioritizing homes with infants and expectant mothers in partnership with the Civil Association of Traditional Midwives of Chimaltenango (ACOTCHI).

• Reaching the Hardest to Reach: Our teams carried systems to households located miles beyond drivable roads — often the only organization ever to visit these homes.

• System Durability: Thanks to our battery management design, each solar system can serve families for up to 20 years, extending your impact across generations.

• Household Savings: Families save about $5–6 per week on kerosene and candles, money redirected toward food, medicine, and school supplies.

Environmental Impact

• The project has now offset over 1,100 tons of CO equivalent emissions.

• Each home continues to save one ton of CO annually — adding up to a growing, measurable climate benefit.

Ripple Effects in Families’ Lives

• Health: Newborns and children no longer breathe toxic kerosene fumes.

• Education: Children have reliable light for studying, staying in school longer and achieving more.

• Women’s Empowerment: Mothers and young women use evening hours to weave fabric and craft goods for market, building family income.

• Community Resilience: Clean water filters reduce disease, and solar power provides reliable light for daily life.

Stories from the Field

• First Time Turning On the Light: Imagine the feelings of joy, relief, and hope when a family turns on a safe, bright solar light at home for the very first time.

• Children Thank You: With light, children can now read and complete homework at night without harmful kerosene smoke.

• Working at Night by Solar Light: Women use the evening hours productively, weaving textiles and preparing goods for market.

Looking Ahead

• 100 Families in 1 Year: With Rotary Club partners, we are preparing for our most ambitious expansion yet — installing 100 solar+water systems in the next 12 months.

• Training & Education: Plans are underway to expand solar education, ensuring youth and women gain hands-on skills for the future.

• Sustaining Momentum: Every household reached brings us closer to our long-term vision — healthier families, stronger communities, and a cooler planet.

Your generosity makes this work possible. Together, we are building a future where families thrive and carbon emissions fall — a legacy of light that lasts for decades.

With gratitude,
John Bottenberg
Acting Executive Director
The Appropriate Technology Collaborative