Light Up the World Foundation

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The Light Up the World Foundation (LUTW) is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing lighting to poor people in remote areas who currently rely on kerosene lamps or even wood fires.[1] Apart from improved night-time lighting this gives health benefits, financial benefits in the long term, and reduced environmental impact.

LUTW is affiliated with the University of Calgary, Canada.

1 Programs
2 Technology
3 Benefits
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Programs

To date, lighting has been provided to more than 14,000 homes in 26 countries,[2]

[edit] Technology

LUTW uses a combination of white LED (WLED) lights and source of renewable energy, typically solar cells but alternatively person powered pedal generators, micro hydro or small wind turbines. (The website uses the terms "pico hydro" and "pico wind turbines", implying extremely small scale.) The solar cells are suitable for providing electricity in remote areas, while the LED lights are chosen for their efficiency, durability, and relatively low cost. The efficiency of the lights means that relatively small solar panels are needed, reducing the capital cost.

Though the WLED's are not as efficient as fluorescent lighting such as CFL lights, they are far more durable.[3]

[edit] Benefits

Although the lighting system is somewhat expensive for the villagers (approximately US$75)[4] 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.[5]

The LUTW website cites a Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory paper, which argues that replacing kerosene lamps with LED lights 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[6]

It should be noted, however, that Mills does not discuss the one-off contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from the production of components such as solar panels.