IN TIBET, solar energy is being used increasingly to heat homes, cook food, run television sets, milk cows, shear sheep and, of course, provide light. Tibet gets 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, compared with New Delhi, which gets 2,525 hours annually.

In an area slightly in excess of one million sq m, National Conservation Strategy Newsletter (Vol. II No. 3-4) reports an estimated 15,000 solar stoves are in operation and 750,000 sq m of greenhouses, which have helped considerably to increase both vegetable and fruit production.

A Chinese government survey estimates that by the turn of the century, there will be 75,000 solar stoves, about 10,000 homes will be lit by solar powered lighting and greenhouse space will hit one million sq m.