What was purpose of LUTW when it was first conceived?Light Up The World Foundation is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to illuminating the lives of the world’s poor. It is the first organization to utilize solid-state lighting technologies powered by renewable energy to bring affordable, safe, healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible lighting to people currently without access to proper lighting.
LUTW is the world’s leader in the advancement and diffusion of this technology for development purposes and remains globally active in setting standards in this field. LUTW systems have been in the field since 1999 and, to date, LUTW has installed 20,000 lighting systems in 42 countries.
LUTW’s genius was in the introduction of an economically viable lighting system that could displace kerosene without the financial support of subsidies. On average “Bottom of the Pyramid” families pay $50 -$150 annually for kerosene. Women can trek for days to the nearest kerosene depot and children suffer from the debilitating effects of smoke filled rooms. The lack of affordable lighting is connected to the cycle of illiteracy and poverty. LUTW lighting systems, in many cases, have a payback of less than one year when micro or merchant credit is extended.
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This article was published in the February 2007 issue of LEDs Magazine.
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