Appropriate Technology: Diodes lighting the way and making a difference
Approximately 2 billion people globally do not have access to electric lighting in their homes. As one can imagine, many people are injured or killed each year due to accidents with kerosene lighting and other flammable alternatives to electricity. In addition, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (http://www.lbl.gov/) estimates that fuel-based kerosene lighting systems are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the developing world. The invention of LED technology has recently come to the aid of many of the world's poor, illuminating their homes with safe, heat-free LED lamps.
The Light Up the World Foundation (www.lutw.org), a non-profit charitable organization, has made great inroads into this global challenge. LUTW's drive to light the homes of the world's poor have already affected more than 100,000 people in 14,000 homes worldwide. They strive to keep their technology affordable, and when possible provide lighting systems for free to people who cannot afford them.
What they do is simple -- but they provide a vital service. LUTW creates solar-powered lighting systems that use White Light Emitting Diodes, or WLEDs. Like the LED lights you might see in flashlights or gimmicky key chains, they have a distinct blue glow, but they can be as small as pinpoints, or cover a broader area just like the light bulbs used in electric lamps. For about $75 USD, a family can light their home for months if not years to come without fear of a kerosene fire or smoke inhalation.
The Light Up the World Foundation (www.lutw.org), a non-profit charitable organization, has made great inroads into this global challenge. LUTW's drive to light the homes of the world's poor have already affected more than 100,000 people in 14,000 homes worldwide. They strive to keep their technology affordable, and when possible provide lighting systems for free to people who cannot afford them.
What they do is simple -- but they provide a vital service. LUTW creates solar-powered lighting systems that use White Light Emitting Diodes, or WLEDs. Like the LED lights you might see in flashlights or gimmicky key chains, they have a distinct blue glow, but they can be as small as pinpoints, or cover a broader area just like the light bulbs used in electric lamps. For about $75 USD, a family can light their home for months if not years to come without fear of a kerosene fire or smoke inhalation.
To see the technology in action on the mountains of Nepal, click here to view a video http://www.lutw.org/pdf/mountains.mov
If you are inspired by the work of LUTW.org, consider making a donation. See their site for details.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
