Great talk by Dave Irvine-Halliday

Here was a great example of technology making a difference in lives of families in the developing world. Simply a couple of LED lamps, a battery, and a small solar panel. What happens is that the families who get these units:

• Save up to $400/yr in kerosene costs for lighting
• Safer environment, no fires!
  
• Lower pollution, less exposure to combustion by-products
• Lower CO2, in the trillion ton range if the whole world were switched
• Lower crime, particularly applicable to Afghanistan and other trouble spots
• Higher education rates
• Higher productivity
• Higher ownership of property

What can this mean? For a family, this can mean a way out of poverty. The savings alone can mean purchasing a home in 2-3 years instead of living in a wood shack. Children can study.

For more information, see the Light up the World Foundation.