Hindu College students to promote solar lamps
LED bulbs serve for 8 hours after a 5-hour charge under bright sunlight.
New Delhi: While striving to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, students of Delhi University (DU) have launched an initiative — Project Oorja — to promote the use of solar LED lamps among 2 lakh street vendors currently using kerosene lamps. Enactus Hindu College, in collaboration with LED safari, aims to provide clean energy solution through solar LED lamps.
“The toxic by-products emitted by the primitive kerosene lamp continue to fuel maladies such as deteriorating eyesight, respiratory conditions, and the persistent threat of fire hazards in the majority of our households. The goal of equitable living standards for all can only be realised by embracing renewable technologies,” said Enactus Hindu.
The unique solar LED lamps serve the dual purpose of fostering technical knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurship among the beneficiaries.
“There are over 2,00,000 street vendors in Delhi who rely on kerosene and other conventional sources of lighting. By switching to our solar lamps, these vendors will contribute to the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions to the extent of over 26,000 kgs, thereby bringing down the incidence of various respiratory diseases,” the team added.
These “Allure Lamps” (solar powered LED lamps), are up-scaled from glass jars embossed with crystal marbles, which are being created by a group of high school graduates and housewives of the Kalkaji/Govindpuri slum area at the NGO, Shanti Sahyog. These lamps have a high quality solar PV and Li-ion battery and light for 8 hours after charging for 5 hours under bright sunlight.
The artisan-cum-technicians are now actively using the know-how acquired to design, construct, and sell designer solar LED lamp products under the initiative. These allure lamps are being used in restaurants, cafes, home interiors, and bars.
“With much enthusiasm, the lampreuners reflect that developing skills in clean technology and creative design to produce a new-age product, which provides independent income, is what they find unique and motivating about the initiative,” Enactus Hindu said.