For most of us, light comes with the flip of a switch, and power for our vast array of devices is readily accessible. We take these things for granted, because we have never been without them. Yet, for at least 1.3 billion people, electricity is a luxury that is difficult to come by.
An article in Forbes magazine reports that the majority of those 1.3 billion people live in rural, under-developed areas, and rely on high-priced kerosene for light. To put this in perspective, people spend as much as 30% of their annual income to burn a dangerous fuel in their houses — one that is responsible for fires that kill millions every year.
Steve Katsaros, engineer and CEO of the green energy company Nokero, has made it his life’s mission to bring affordable and reliable electricity to disadvantaged populations around the world. And he is accomplishing this by using the greatest source of power the Earth has access to: The sun.
Katsaros has developed a revolutionary LED lamp with a built-in solar panel that stores energy in a battery. The lamps are built to last for as many as 500 charging cycles. Designed to look like a recognizable light bulb, these solar-powered LED lights are a safe and inexpensive alternative to traditional kerosene lamps.
In addition to Nokero’s solar lamps, the company sells a solar battery charger called the N222. This product not only provides light, but is also USB compatible and thus capable of charging most cell-phone and battery-powered devices.
It’s clear Nokero is on to something that could have a dramatic impact on the industry. However, in the end, Katsaros says his products are all about improving people’s quality of life. “We’re not just manufacturing something that makes people a little bit happier,” he says. “This is life-changing.”