Light Up the World Foundation
The Light Up the World Group (LUTW) (no longer a foundation) is an international development organization whose goal is to provide renewable energy technologies and high efficiency lighting to communities around the world that do not have access to appropriate and affordable energy solutions. [1] Our primary program objective is to reduce dependency on the use of fossil-fuels for lighting.
Research has found that installing solar home lighting systems as an alternative to fossil-fuel based lighting has:
- Improved health conditions with a cleaner indoor environment
- Enhanced educational opportunities by providing high quality light for study
- Furthered environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gases, indoor air pollutants and deforestation
- Promoted equality by empowering marginalized communities and building local capacity
- Improved economic opportunities for beneficiaries
- Contributed to other human rights and development objectives such as gender equality, household decision-making and work distribution
LUTW was affiliated with the University of Calgary, Canada.
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[edit] Programs & Services
LUTW has worked with over 220 partner organizations to install more than 27,000 lights in 51 countries. The number of people that have benefited from our projects is approaching 1 million.
Community Development: LUTW's primary objective is to promote international development through the design and installation of renewable energy and high efficiency lighting systems for off-grid communities. This encompasses technical training for local technicians, capacity building of local non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations and cooperation with microfinance initiatives.
Research and Design: LUTW works with leading lighting manufacturers to develop off-grid energy products appropriate for developing countries. Providing access to testing locations gives manufacturers feedback on the needs and accessibility of potential markets, as well as an opportunity for low-cost field trials. Beneficiaries benefit through improved product quality and reduced cost while also improving consumer awareness and the creation of distribution networks. Improving the market for off-grid products directly contributes to improving access for those in need.
Education: LUTW partners with leading educational institutions with expertise in the energy and lighting industries to provide post-secondary students with opportunities to travel to project countries and participate directly in implementation. The course curriculum contains information on the needs and impact of energy and light on human development, and students carry out field-specific research when appropriate.
Social Responsibility Engagement: LUTW works with companies operating in developing countries to assist them in fulfilling their CSR obligations. Many developing countries legally oblige companies to set aside funds to implement social projects as part of their access concessions. Companies use LUTW as an implementing body to ensure a tangible community benefit from the CSR expenditure.
[edit] Technology
LUTW uses solar photovoltaic panels to power high efficiency WLED lighting systems. The design of the system is based on the energy needs and the economic capacity of the community. The objective is to install systems that have low capital and operating coss, while still providing superior lighting service. In some cases other basic energy services can be met, such as a radio or cell phone charging. The solar PV systems must be robust enough to withstand the extreme conditions of remote communities.
[edit] Benefits
Although the lighting system is somewhat expensive for the villagers (approximately US$75)[1] in the long term the cost of kerosene for lamps is eliminated. The elimination of kerosene smoke is a health benefit, and the light is also brighter than a kerosene lamp.[2]
The LUTW website cites a Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory paper, which argues that replacing kerosene lamps with LED Lamps helps reduce greenhouse gases. The paper says:
The single-greatest way to reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with lighting energy use is to replace kerosene lamps with white-LED electric lighting systems in developing countries; this can be accomplished even while dramatically increasing currently deficient lighting service levels—Mills, 2002[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- LUTW Home page
- Solid State Lighting for the Developing World - The only Solution - by Peon, R., et. al, Optics and Photonics, 2005.
- Global Lighting Energy Savings Potential - by Evan Mills, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 2002
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