On the surface, the rapid urbanization of cities can be seen as a good thing for the economy. For the cities themselves, however, it can cause money for basic public services to be stretched thin. Such is the case for the cities of Kampala and Jinja in Uganda where everything from road maintenance to construction is being affected by the financial strain of rapid urbanization. After studying Kampala and Jinja for an extensive period of time, the University of Leeds made a case that comprehensive lighting in urban areas can boost a strong economy—and can be accomplished much more affordable thanks to advances in solar and LED technology. While this study focuses specifically on Ugandan cities, similar benefits have played out in places like Detroit, where, after decades of coping with broken lights, foot traffic in neighborhoods is up 15% thanks to new LEDs, and businesses are reporting gains. In Kampala, the local authority spends around $35,000 per month on conventional lighting bills, but with solar lights, that bill can be cut out completely. Beyond this, the Leeds research found that in both Kampala and Jinja, women feel safer navigating the cities at night. The increased safety, too, leads to more shops and vendors being able to remain open and work later into the night. The Leeds team estimated that in Kampala, 42,500 working hours could be added to the day by giving street vendors more light to work by, and 4,000 jobs could be added. If all Ugandan cities adopted solar lighting schemes, that could equate to 14,000 new jobs. So, what does this all tell us? It tells us that for stronger, more sustainable cities, solar street lights can provide a simple solution. For more, check out this in-depth piece from Fast Company writer Eillie Anzilotti.