Those at SunLife strongly believe that free, safe, reliable and efficient non-fossil fuel based energy can greatly reduce the household expenditure of the rural poor, who spend much of their hard earned income on two basic necessities of daily living: lighting and cooking. They promote the "7 Steps put of Poverty" in which a family incorporates into their cooking techniques heat retaining baskets, solar cookers, and dried vegetable waste (as fuel) to reduce amount of kerosene needed. The money saved is then used to purchase a solar (photo-voltaic) lamp and charging system.