A coconut shell, a bamboo stick, some LED lights, and a solar panel could help slash electricity bills, according to Shyam Kumar and his team at Innovation Experience (iX), an NGO. As proof, they produce ‘suryavilakku’, a low-cost solar table lamp they developed. Made from organic materials such as coconut shells and recycled wood, the lamp runs on solar energy. The team says it is bio-degradable and environment friendly. The lamp has undergone rigorous testing for durability and offers four hours of bright light if the solar panel is charged for six hours.
Lamps given to schools
The team, supported by IT major UST Global, gave away 100 solar lanterns to students of government schools in the city at a function held at the Press Club on Thursday.
At the function Minister for Electricity Aryadan Mohammed said that such efforts, along with a culture of energy conservation, could help the State tackle power shortage.
According to Mr. Kumar, the group will team up with UST Global to impart training for women and children in making these lamps. “Our aim is to teach at least one member of each household to make these lamps. If 10 lakh children in the State use solar reading lamps during their study hours, we would be saving 50 to 80 mega watts of power,” said Mr. Kumar.
“The production cost of these lamps is Rs.1,000. Plans are on the anvil to train 500 students, who in turn will become master trainers and promote the project,” he added.
