Energy Illustrated: visualizing our impact

December 04, 2019

What does it look like to off-set over 350,000 metric tonnes of CO2e emissions? Is that a little or a lot? What even does the tiny ‘e’ after CO2 mean?  Most of us, who are not climate scientists, might find it difficult to find the meaning in this number. 

A common discussion in Solar Sister is around how best to communicate the complex challenges our model addresses and the resulting impact. Simply publishing our impact numbers isn’t enough to convey the complex and multiple improvements to human wellbeing, environmental health and women’s economic empowerment in the communities where we work. Impact numbers alone also fail to convey how our model is fighting against the climate crisis. 

A picture is worth a thousand words, or in this case, thousands of data points.

That’s where data visualization comes into play.  A picture is worth a thousand words, or in this case, thousands of data points.

Visualizing our data allows us to contextualize quantitative information and detect trends.  Visual graphics enable us to look at the bigger picture and tell a story that people can connect with. Graphics rooted in our data get messages across faster and more clearly. Most importantly, data visualization makes complex data accessible and shareable for everyone. You don’t need to be a data scientist to absorb graphics!  

So, today we launch an online campaign called “Energy Illustrated” — we will  share our impact numbers through visual stories throughout the next few weeks. Through Energy Illustrated, you can learn about how our women-led model fosters positive social, economic, and environmental change. This campaign is part of a larger project to raise awareness about what is possible when you train women to lead the clean energy switch, and is made possible the Women in Energy program, supported by ENERGIA and DANIDA.  

Get involved in this campaign here! 

Download and share the below graphics on your social media. You can also download the entire gallery here

WHO WE ARE 

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LIGHTING  


COOKING 

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CREATE IMPACT NOW. Donate to our Bright Futures campaign and we’ll double your impact!