Tech Meets Good: 10 Million Lights

“We will replace every kerosene lantern in the world with high quality and affordable light and power solutions, thereby providing everyone access to a basic human need: safe and bright light.”

- D.lite Mission Statement

For our "Tech Meets Good" feature this week, we return to a familiar Tonic News topic on how technology is changing our world for the better with an update on another company distributing light to the developing world. D.light Design is hoping to eradicate traditional kerosene lamps with an admirable goal: to provide their innovative lights to 10 million customers by 2010. Founded by two graduate students at Stanford University, D.Lite has created an LED-based light fixture that people can power with either solar energy or a fast-charging battery option (if a source of electricity exists). The founders, Sam Goldman and Ned Tozun, are seeking to eradicate kerosene lamps in the developing world. Goldman was inspired after his experience in the Peace Corps in Benin, after he saw many children burned and scarred by oil lamp spills. Before launching its products, the D.light team conducted interviews with many target households to ensure that they delivered a product that people would actually use. The results are two lamps -- one heavy-duty and industrial and the other a desk lamp more pertinent for household use -- that cost between $15 and $35. The lamps are practical and one would think a large consumer market exists for these products within the U.S. as well. The company is also establishing a charitable arm of their company to distribute the lamps to families and communities for free that cannot afford the upfront charge. The D.light product produces exponentially stronger light compared to that of a kerosene lamp, and the company believes that this improvement will drive more work and study opportunities for families who have lived in dim kerosene light. Finally, the sickening and polluting of kerosene lamps are due to become a thing of the past, since no emissions come from the LED lamps. It's great to hear that American business talent is focusing on areas of the world that need their help. Check out D.lite at www.dlightdesign.com. “Technology Meets Good” is a regular Monday feature at Tonic News. If you have cool examples of technology doing good in our world, please email Steve[at]tonic.com.