A Bright Idea for a Sustainable World

We're barely into 2012 and some sustainable initiatives out there are already making the world a brighter place.

There are around 1.5 billion people across the globe without proper access to electricity. With those people in mind, New York-based Studio Kalkwijk has created WakaWaka Shine Bright, a solar-powered LED light designed to replace kerosene lamps. These can be unsafe, damaging to health and a source of greenhouse gas emissions. WakaWaka means 'shine' in Swahili language.

The idea is similar to LuminAID and Sollight and the product should reach the market at the cost of US$10, or the same amount that it would take to run a kerosene light for two months. The main advantage of the WakaWaka light is that when it's charged during a full day it will shine for 16 hours. It beats solar pebbles, which shine for 12 hours, and other solar lights that often last four to six hours.

Outside rural settings, the lamp can function as a camping light, outdoors accessory, bed table lamp or cell phone charger. It is light and it features a replaceable battery, which according to its makers can last up to three years when used on a daily basis.

In order to make the project come to fruition, the designers launched it on Kickstarter, which is a crowdfunding platform for creative projects. Three WakaWaka lamps will go to the students and teachers at Mwamtsefy school in Kenia. Potential funders can chip in with as little as $1.

WakaWaka is directed by Camille van Gestel, one of Off-Grid Solutions founders, a company that creates sustainable solutions to those without access to the grid.The deadline to support the WakaWaka project is tomorrow (January 7th).

Image credit: WakaWaka