I used to think non-profits were boring. I think the issue was really that most non-profits do not convey their message well, or are not addressing a compelling issue.
Light Up The World Foundation isn't like that. From the website: Light Up The World Foundation (LUTW) is the first humanitarian organization to utilize renewable energy and solid-state lighting technologies to bring affordable, safe, healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible illumination to people who do not have access to power for adequate lighting.
So now you are asking, what's solid state lighting (SSL)? Good question.
Commonly referred to as LED's, Light-emitting diodes have been used in the US for years as digital power indicators on TV's, computers, radios, etc. Previously, they were only able to emit low amounts of colored light. But recent advances in the technology have allowed for bright white light to be produced from an amount of energy an order of magnitude smaller than with traditional incandescent light bulbs.
That means that a few LED's put together into a small lamp can be powered by a very small 5W solar panel and long-lasting battery. This means that families no longer have to use inefficient, expensive, dangerous, unhealthy kerosene lamps in order to light up there homes at night.
Check out this short ten question quiz from their website that explains all of the issues that the
foundation is solving with these new technologies.
I would encourage you to watch this short ten minute video chronicling how the company got started and how they are providing affordable lighting solutions to the two billion people in the developing world. After watching the video, consider making a
donation to the Light Up The World Foundation that will help them light up schools, aid stations, and orphanages in places like Papua New Guinea, Tibet, Ecuador, and South Africa.
Ben Casnocha: The Blog I am an entrepreneur. When I was 12 I founded a dot-com company. When I was 14 I founded Comcate, Inc. currently a leading CRM provider for local governments.
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