title: Adequacy of solar energy to keep babies warm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Solar energy could be used as an alternate energy source for keeping neonates warm especially in tropical countries. The present study investigated the efficacy of solar powered room heating system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referral center for neonatal care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A fluid system heated by solar panels and circulated into a room was used to maintain room temperature. A servocontrolled heating device was used to regulate and maintain desired room temperature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal rectal temperature and room temperature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants between 1750-2250 g were observed to require a mean room temperature of 32.5 degrees C to maintain normothermia. In 85 infants less than 1500 g, of the 5050 infant temperature records, only 3% showed a record less than 36 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Solar powered room heating is effective in maintaining infant temperature and is cost-effective as compared to the existing warming devices.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, Grant Medical College, Bombay.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Daga
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sequera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajendragadkar
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D012993:Solar Energy