D.light wins the prestigious Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy

Winners of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy 2010 were announced on July 1 at a VIP ceremony in London addressed by Sir David Attenborough.

Five international winners and a Gold Award winner were awarded over £140,000 prize money for their pioneering work in benefitting communities across the globe and saving thousands of tonnes of CO₂ through the innovative use of sustainable energy technologies.

Sir David Attenborough said:

“These award-winners are champions at delivering practical ways of protecting our planet and its precious biodiversity through the use of sustainable energy. They are reducing carbon emissions and protecting local eco-systems, while improving the lives of the people they touch. They deserve to be celebrated for their important role in tackling both climate change and poverty. ”

Sarah Butler-Sloss, Founder Director of the Ashden Awards said:

“Our 2010 winners are living proof of the significant contribution that local sustainable energy initiatives can make to tackling poverty, lack of access to resources and the threat of climate change. We are delighted that we can highlight the work of these pioneering projects in the hope that decision-makers across the globe will be inspired by what can be achieved through the strategic use of simple, yet innovative technologies”

This year’s overall Gold Award winner (£40,000) is D Light Design, India, selected for, in the words of the judges: “its passion and dedication to the cause of ridding the developing world of the health and pollution problems associated with the use of kerosene lighting through the design, manufacture and promotion of durable and affordable solar lanterns in India and across the developing world. The judges were particularly impressed with their highly effective marketing strategy which has put solar lighting within reach of over a million people in 32 countries with significant potential for further expansion.”

Details on D.Light’s Project

There are 1.6 billion people in the world without access to electricity who rely on kerosene, candles and other fuel-based sources for lighting. 2 emissions by 44,000 tonnes a year.

D.light has developed solar-rechargeable LED lanterns to provide bright, clean and affordable alternatives to kerosene lanterns.

– Solar lanterns are designed by D.light to be low cost, high quality and durable.

– Products developed, tested and designed by D.light’s own design team located in Hong Kong and manufactured and assembled in China.

– There are three basic models: Nova, Solata and Kiran, ranging from 0.3Wp to 1.3Wp. All use LED lights.

– D.light develops its products based on hundreds of hours of field research with end users in India, Africa and elsewhere.

– Solar lanterns cost end users between US$10 and US$45, depending on the model.

– D.light has sold over 220,000 solar lanterns in 32 countries, with main markets in India and East Africa. Lights are benefiting around 1.1 million people.

– Solar lanterns sold to date are reducing CO

– PV lanterns allow children to study for longer hours and more effectively.

– Other benefits include extended shop hours, more efficient agricultural activities, mobile phone charging facilities and craftwork in the evening.

For more info on the Ashden awards: http://www.ashdenawards.org/

For more infor on d.Light: www.dlightdesign.com