D.light Kiran
  • D.light Kiran
  • D.light Kiran
  • D.light Kiran
  • D.light Kiran

D.light Kiran

Nominated by JackGW

Designer

D.light Design Team

Keywords

d.light, dlight, solar, led, lantern, india, africa, rural, cheap, lighting, light, responsible design, social entrepreneurship

Description

Kiran ('Ray of Light' in Hindi) is a super cheap ($10) solar lantern that provides an affordable and clean replacement for kerosene lighting in rural India and Africa.

Each year, kerosene lamps are responsible for over 100 million tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Fuel takes up to a third of a family’s monthly income and the black soot emitted causes long term health difficulties in users.

Each Kiran replaces 2 kerosene lamps and provides up to 8 hours of bright light on a single day's charge.

Unlike kerosene, Kiran has no recurring costs and takes only 4 months to pay for itself.

It's great to see a company using new technology to make such a difference to people who need it most!

Check out their website:
http://www.dlightdesign.com/

Comments (38)

    1. arikira
    2. "Each year, kerosene lamps are responsible for over 100 million tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere"

      This is truly impossible to calculate.

      How many tons of CO2 emissions would be emitted if al the kerosene lamps were replaced with these solar lamps? Of course, the solar lamps produce no CO2, but their manufacture does... And what happens with the chemicals in the batteries? While global warming is a huge threat, a more immediate and perhaps important threat to human, animal, and plant life is chemical pollution, which will occur as a result of the disposal of these lamps and their rechargeable batteries.
    1. Madhav
    2. Great Works guys. Kudos to you for keeping billion of poor people at heart for your product design.

      Payoff time of 4 for renewable product simply super. affordable price and simple design great jump from your last product.

    1. DIGARE
    2. Good design adapted to the poor people conditions
    1. markmanley
    2. I agree with Therese - we need more technology like this! Congratulations on the nomination and I hope you win!!
    1. Anita Andrade
    2. Great work, keep it up !!! Now when can we get our hands on one ?
    1. Ferdinand
    2. This is good. Keep it up!
    1. aussyfern
    2. Goa is a land of sun, sea and susegaad. This solar lamp suits us just fine! Great idea -- D.Light Kiran.
    1. Luxemburg
    2. My vote goes to this simple, yet effective lamp, which harnesses nature for our use.
    1. SagarS
    2. This lamp is fantastic for use in India. We have too much sun and too many power cuts. Hope you go on designing something useful. India already has many bikes, I am voting for this simple but useful lamp.
    1. sarahb
    2. It is creditable that the team behind Kiran have empathised with the needs of rural communities and created a product to improve the life chances of future generations. Thank you!
    1. pavanmisra
    2. Awesome going Kiran ! Proud of you and your work ! great going !
    1. jpego
    2. Congratulations to the team for a wonderful project! Useful and beautiful.
    1. jpego
    2. Congratulations to the team for a wonderful project! Useful and beautiful.
    1. rbkc
    2. Robin here - Head of Product Design at D.light. Thank you to everyone who's shown their support for the Kiran by voting. It's very encouraging to read the comments that have been coming in as well.

      I also want to say a big 'well done' to all who've been involved with the Kiran project. It's been a challenge, but to see the effect that this product is having on people's lives, has made it worthwhile.

      The deadline's closing in now, so please cast your final votes!
    1. samg
    2. Thanks everybody for all the kind words. I'm the CEO and Founder of D.light. We love what we are doing - and we really appreciate the support on here. I hope we can create more products like it! Also - Happy Diwali Everybody - today is the Indian Festival of Lights :)
      Sam
    1. Hojo
    2. This is brilliant! Innovation that is useful and cheap!
    1. C
    2. I'm proud to say that my brother designed this product. The most important thing about this design is how cheap the product is, making it accessible for the majority of poor people. Few products in this world look good, work well, change people's lives for the better and cost so little. Great work!
    1. agung.dewantoro
    2. Really pro-poor design and technology. Only a few in this world!
    1. solbridge
    2. A world class design packaging an excellent example of social entrepreneurship!
    1. sincha
    2. Brilliant, BRIGHT product idea coupled with a winning design!
    1. gbp
    2. A great design for a great globally socially responsible product!
    1. azminakassam
    2. INSPIRING, INNOVATIVE AND USEFUL TECHNOLOGY TO SERVE MANKIND.
      GREAT WORK!
    1. Natasha Buleska
    2. Next step for d.light design: start selling the product online - we'd like to buy it in Macedonia where we get plenty of sun and a few power-cuts a week in winter :-) Best of luck and I hope you win!
    1. Natasha Buleska
    2. Next step for d.light design: start selling the product online - we'd like to buy it in Macedonia where we get plenty of sun and a few power-cuts a week in winter :-) Best of luck and I hope you win!
    1. leigh
    2. wonderful idea. clean and green design. perfection.
    1. gdzb
    2. great design, real market need, great social benefits, massive market, what more could you ask for?
    1. gparuthi
    2. Looks like a great design that will definitely help people in the third world countries. All the best to the designer of this product :)
    1. Potter
    2. This product seems amazing! It looks great and easy to access to, i mean affordable! It will definitely help people to change their lives! I want to have some too! So that I can help people as you guys did!
    1. Gopali
    2. I work in the field of environmental cleaning and have worked in many slums. This is a great innovation for the poor of this world.
    1. Leony
    2. Coming from a family where an uncle had to study under a street lamp, I am grateful that solar technology has been harnessed to benefit those without access to a conventional power source. This product ensures that children of poor parents are afforded the opportunity to obtain needed education. Besides being eco-friendly, D.Light Kiran will also impact the socio-economic conditions of the poor in rural areas and deprived pockets of urban areas.
    1. Felicity
    2. Kiran harnesses the sun's rays, lightens the load, improves the quality of life safely - and is easy to use! That's an exceptional product!
    1. mahesh
    2. i expecially like the social cause behind this design ,, a lot of children in india and elsewhere study under street lights or kerosene lamps ,, with advancement in tech and cost of solar cells becomming cheaper this design can become iconic .!! all kudos to you My friend ..u made us proud .!!
    1. Siddhartha
    2. this is a cool design and an extremely contextual one. form meets function here!
    1. 16prav23
    2. A great design.The design keeps in account all the basic necessities and conditions the general mass faces in today's world. Kudos !
    1. nickpunt
    2. great design is about combining purpose and availability.
    1. designforglobalchange
    2. this new design is more stylish than its predecessors. Good work!
    1. seansun2006
    2. Super cleap,physical attractive,very safe and clean lamp!
    1. Therese
    2. It would be great if technology like this can be brought to more countries with a lot of people living below the poverty line. I wish this company all the best :)
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