Zimbabwe plans to prohibit the use of electric water heaters and require new properties to use solar power in order to curb the electricity shortages that have plagued the country. Before new houses can connect to the power grid, they will be required to attain a solar water heater. Zimbabwe suffers from severe black outs, and 60% of the population does not have access to electricity. For those who do have access to electricity, water heating accounts for approximately 40% of household electricity bills. Zimbabwe’s peak demand currently requires more than twice the amount of power that is available, which makes it necessary for businesses to purchase expensive generators to meet their full demand. Some government officials have blamed the shortage on low water levels at the Kariba Hydroelectric Dam while others have expressed that investment in the energy sector has been neglected for decades. The plan will be rolled out over the course of the next five years in the hopes of saving up to 400 MW of power. For the full story, see http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34416210.