Solar net fan: a potential tool to enhance bednet usage in hot climates

In recent years, many millions of bednets have been distributed to combat malaria. However, a substantial proportion of the recipients do not use their nets at all or year-round. The major stated reason for this is that they are hot and stuffy to sleep under during hot weather. A fan could bring relief by replacing the air inside the net, and also by providing wind to increase convective heat loss and heat loss by evaporation. However, a fan appears to be out of reach for those without access to electricity.

The question arises whether or not a low cost, low energy solar fan system comprising of a pedestal mounted fan suitable for use inside bednets, a deep cycle battery and a small solar panel, might increase net usage and be affordable to off-grid populations at risk of malaria.

This could be tested in a rural tropical setting by distributing solar net fan systems to random households owning nets. Net use behaviour of participants would be monitored regularly, and at the end of the study, the economic value would be assessed by willingness to accept and willingness to pay surveys.

If low energy solar net fan systems are affordable, they could improve the quality of life of people living in off-grid tropical conditions, by providing cooling and also by powering small lights, which could replace candles and kerosene lamps, which are a major cause of holes in nets. If the net fan systems also enhance bednet use, they could contribute to reducing transmission of malaria and other diseases transmitted by insects at night, also at times when the nuisance of mosquitoes is deemed insufficient to suffer the inconvenience of sleeping under a ventilation blocking net.