Package-  7.5 Wp Mini SHS containing one LED and one compact fluorescent lamp and a lantern. The system is designed for four hours lighting through either using 3 watt fluorescent lamp or by using a 1.5 LED lamp and a 1 watt lantern. 

RSF Mode of Financing for SHS is as Follows

Mode 1: The customer has to pay 15% of the total price as down payment during installation and the remaining 85% is paid by monthly installment within 36 months including 6% service charge (flat rate).

Mode 2: The customer has to pay 15% of the total price as down payment during installation and the remaining 85% is paid by monthly installment within 24 months including 6% service charge (flat rate), moreover 2% discount is applicable for it.

Mode 3: 4% discount is given for cash purchase.

Market Development Activities

Renewable energy technology is comparatively new concept for the rural people so awareness development program can assists the market activities. In view of this RSF has taken the following program to develop the market of SHS.

Demonstration

Demonstrations are arranged in a public gathering place like market, exhibition, school and college campus to build up the awareness for renewable energy technology and thus people can see the performance of the technology and can convey the massage among mass people.

Dissemination Materials

Leaflet & brochures explaining the benefit of SHS and its services are distributed among the people.  Banners posters are also being used for this purpose.

School-bag /Wall-clock as Promotional Item

RSF is giving a free school bag/ wall clock as promotional item with its SHS. It has two way effects. The free promotional items attract the customers to buy the system in addition every day when students carry the bag to the school, other students and neighbors become familiar with RSF logo and its product. 

Competitive Price with Quality Product

RSF is continually trying to make the SHS more affordable for the rural people.  The development of local manufacturing of SHS accessories has been made possible through continuous intervening with the local manufacturer.

Maintenance Service

All SHS clients get free support for three years from the date of installation. RSF engineers visit at least once in a month during collection of monthly installment and check the system and note the data in the maintenance card of the system. If they found any problem, they take the necessary steps to resolve it.

User Training

RSF arrange regular free training program for the user. User training ensures the proper use of the system moreover some preventive maintenance work is also done by the users. In addition it helps to dissemination the technology.

Post Warranty Service

RSF has post warranty service policy for its clients. This post warranty service charge is very low.  It ensures that user will get a prompt response for any kind of technical problem and service from RSF engineer. Major replacement cost will be borne by the user at a reasonable price.

Impact of SHS on Society and Especially of Women

Children's education and other activities of household work have improved due to better quality of light. Commercial users reported increase in income by extending working hours after dusk. Besides, PV system has opened up new opportunities for employment. The living standard of our customers is also improving.

Generally women, who traditionally take the responsibility for the arrangement of home lighting (Kerosene lamp) at night, are enjoying safe and hassle free lighting systems in their daily lives. Moreover, they are getting opportunities to earn extra money by utilizing their time after dusk by sewing or by doing other. In addition, solar lighting system has increased their physical security at night.

Solar Home Systems are also used at different productive purpose such at grocery shop, fishing boat, hatchery etc. Besides this, SHS provides the opportunity for increasing social awareness through the access to educational and entertainment programming by TV and radio. In addition people who live out of grid power can charge their mobile phone through the SHS. In Bangladesh, 90% area is covered by mobile phone signal but only 35% area is covered by grid power so most of the mobile phone users are depending on alternative power for charging their mobile set.

Social Development Work

RSF has taken some social development activities by utilizing its surplus fund which is generating from its business dealing with renewable energy technology. Ongoing social activities are as follows:

Ø  Rehabilitation program for SIDR

Ø  RSF Model School & College

Ø  Poribash Utsab

Ø  Computer Training Center

Rehabilitation Program for SIDR Affected People

•         Three fishing boats including fishing accessories have been prepared and going to be hand over to 30 fishermen

•         Trail sailing has been done

•         All necessary legislation has been completed

•         Total cost of three boats is Tk 2,050,000

•         50% of total cost will be recover from the beneficiary within one year through monthly installment and 50% will be exempted

•         Collected money will be used as revolving fund for rehabilitation of SIDR

Progress of RSF Model School and College

RSF Poribash Utsab 2008

Impact

Ø  Awareness development for environmental issue

Ø  Pollution reduction

Ø  Increase of social acceptance of renewable energy technology

Ø  Increase student knowledge regarding environment, climate change and 3R

 Computer Training Center

•         RSF has four IT centers as follows

•         Shyamnagor in Shatkhira

•         Shylkopa in Jhinadha

•         Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar

•         Changarchar in Chandpur

•         Objectives of such center is

•         Human resource development

•         Enabling IT service in remote rural areas

•         Business model development for rural IT center

•         Employment creation in rural areas

•         the following courses are offered

•         MS Word

•         MS Excel

•         MS Power Point

•         and basic English

•         So far 231 students have been enrolled and 76 of them already completed the course and 231 participants are continuing

•          

•         In future graphics software training and data entry opportunity will be available in theses center.

Relief operation for SIDR affected people

•          RSF has collected cash from its staff and other personal donation

•          Sharee and cash have been distributed among the 1000 people

•          In addition more than 1000 gents and ladies wear (used and new) has been distributed

•          1000 sweaters have been distributed during winter.  

Target of 2008

RSF will open 100 unit offices at grass root level to expand its activities in all corner of Bangladesh By 2008. RSF target to install 35,000 SHS, 300 biogas plants, including 5,000 improve cook stove by 2008.  

At a Glance

Incorporated                            31 January 2006

Main program                         Solar Home System