Tiny Solar Pebble Can Replace Kerosene Lamps in Rural Africa
Posted By Brit Liggett On April 5, 2010 @ 5:02 pm In Air quality,global development,green gadgets,Green Lighting,humanitarian design,Solar Power | 6 Comments
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In the poorest regions of the world [5], exposure to kerosene kills one person every 20 seconds. That’s why we’re really impressed with the folks over at Plus Minus Solar [6] who’ve designed their Solar Pebble to replace kerosene lamps [7] which are widely used in rural Africa [8]. Kerosene is expensive and highly toxic and eliminating the use of it is a huge mission for humanitarian designers [9]. This little solar wonder [10] is a great alternative. Its small, portable, inexpensive and can provide light [11] as well as charge small electronic devices [12].
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Solar [14] and wind power [15] are great alternatives to kerosene but are often large and not portable. The Solar Pebble is small enough to carry around, clip on the front of a bicycle [16], or hang from the ceiling of a home. With a 12 hour charge it can light a room for an entire day. It can also provide a charge for a mobile phone [17] in an area without electricity.
In total the Solar Pebble costs about a tenth of what a family would spend on kerosene for light and is 100% cleaner. They are releasing the product in June to the masses. Like the XO Laptop [18] every purchase made in the developed world helps provide Solar Pebbles to people in the developing world [19]. It would be perfect for camping or as a reading light and you’d use it knowing that someone else is enjoying the same clean light [20] that you have.
Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/tiny-solar-pebble-can-replace-kerosene-lamps-in-rural-africa/
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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/tiny-solar-pebble-can-replace-kerosene-lamps-in-rural-africa/
[4] Image: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/tiny-solar-pebble-can-replace-kerosene-lamps-in-rural-africa/solar-pebble-for-africa/
[5] poorest regions of the world: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/18/the-watertower-aims-to-solve-sudans-drought/
[6] Plus Minus Solar: http://www.plusminussolar.co.uk/index.html
[7] kerosene lamps: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/22/light-the-world-using-dirt-powered-fuel-cells/
[8] rural Africa: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/02/disposable-toilet-can-help-grow-crops-in-developing-nations/
[9] huge mission for humanitarian designers: http://www.inhabitat.com/index.php?s=kerosene+lamp
[10] solar wonder: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/solar-powered-personal-transit-system-of-the-future/
[11] provide light: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/01/barcelona-introduces-led-streetlights-that-cut-energy-use-by-13/
[12] electronic devices: http://www.inhabitat.com/green-gadgets/
[13] Image: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/tiny-solar-pebble-can-replace-kerosene-lamps-in-rural-africa/solar-pebble-at-night/
[14] Solar: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/02/sundolier-robot-pumps-sunlight-indoors-for-powerful-daylighting/
[15] wind power: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/01/gorgeous-green-energy-park-for-korea-electric-power-corporation/
[16] of a bicycle: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/05/treadmill-bike-is-a-creative-workout-on-wheels/
[17] mobile phone: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/11/solar-surge-ipod-and-iphone-cases-are-now-available/
[18] XO Laptop: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/23/fuseprojects-new-tablet-device-for-children/
[19] developing world: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/16/lessons-in-green-building-from-afghanistan%C2%A0/
[20] clean light: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/17/energy-generating-self-heating-solar-roadway-unveiled/
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