Luci Lights: Bringing Light to Developing Countries and Outdoor Enthusiasts
According to worldenergyoutlook.org, an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity. That’s a lot of people. Of those, 95% of them live in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Electricity impacts how we learn, work, clean, cook, heat and cool our homes, provide medical care for others…the list goes on. In the modern age of America, a lot of us wouldn’t know how to function without electricity. To be able to provide electricity to the 1.2 billion people in need is the optimal goal. Until that day comes, one company has invented Luci lights to brighten the path for those without power.
What is Luci?
Luci lights are inflatable solar lights that use the power of the sun, and last for 12 hours. No need for expensive batteries or kerosene like many people in underdeveloped countries use to power their flashlights and lamps. The Luci Original lamp is a flexible disc-shaped plastic, and when inflated by mouth, stands 5 inches high. It is made of a waterproof material and weighs just 4.4 ounces. The Luci light consists of 10 LED lights on the inner bottom of the cylinder which are powered by a solar panel on the outside. The Luci Original light is charged and ready to go in 7 hours of direct sunlight. It can operate in temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, all the way up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why Luci?
The Luci inflatable solar lamp is made by a company called MPOWERD. Based in New York City, the company created Luci back in 2012 in hopes of bringing light to countries in need. The idea behind Luci was a clean, affordable energy source that anyone in any situation could use. Luci lights are made for any type of environment in need of light without conventional power: outdoor camping, people living in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, decorative party lighting for outside, during a natural disaster, etc.
MPOWERD has recently partnered with Direct Energy, a leading energy service provider across America. For every customer that signs up with a Direct Energy “Give Brighter” plan, they will receive a Luci light, and one will be donated to someone without electricity.
What’s Next For MPOWERD?
At the end of December, the mission-based company announced that it will expand the brand in the home decor market with Target, Houzz, and Bloomingdale’s. Just this past fall, MPOWERD created the Luci Candle to accompany their other decor lights (Luci Lux and Luci Color). These “lifestyle” lighting options have already been featured in high-end museum stores. This will hopefully open up more doorways for more people to gain affordable, clean lighting solutions in areas where energy poverty is prevalent.
Sources:
https://mpowerd.com
