The developers of a solar lamp that aims to replace kerosene-burning lights in homes in developing countries have won a prestigious environmental award.

 

Currently 1.5 million people are killed by indoor pollution, as a result of burning kerosene in lamps and a staggering 70% of sub-Sahara Africa has no access to electricity.
What they do have access to however, is the sun, and lots of it.

 

This solar lamp design is hoped to revolutionise the lives of people in Africa, being cleaner, green and cheaper. The lamps sell for around $10-45 (£7-30), and obviously has no further running costs.

 

The company who designed the lamps is called D Light design and they have won £40,000 ($61,000) in prize money and also the Gold Award, for, "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. We 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," the judges said.

 

The company was set up by a group of entrepreneurs who think that, "This will do to kerosene what mobile phones did to letters."