Since the war began there in 2001, Afghanistan has slowly become a more secured place as sectarian violence has ebbed. Recently, there have been improvements to the country's woefully underdeveloped infrastructure, with one of those upgrades, solar powered street lights, going online this week.

The 28 solar powered street lights went online on Wednesday and were unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Kabul. Residents and troops alike greeted the street lights with excitement; many of the people who live in the city affirm that the lights will allow them to keep their businesses open later, increase safety on busy streets and improve the overall quality of life.

Because of the country's underdeveloped electrical grid, "the energy demand is much greater than the supply," Thomas Magness, a U.S. Army Colonel, asserts. Moreover, he says that solar power could provide the country with a way to generate electricity, keep demand for it low and enable homes to have power.

Kabul's deputy mayor, Abdul Ahad Wahid, is thrilled with his city's new solar power technology: "I know that this will have a positive impact. The moment we started lighting the road, people were extremely happy. There were like ‘wow we are living in a real city."