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Project
Proposal: Lighting During Power Cuts
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Full description of problem/need |
| Pabal suffers from
approximately 8-9 hours of power outages
per day during the summer season, and
approximately 4-8 hours of power outages
per day during the rainy season. Due
to these frequent outages, people in
Pabal are forced to use alternative
methods of lighting their homes during
the evening hours. Though most work
stops if it is evening and the power
is out, cooking, washing up, and school
work must be done at this time.
Also, since many people in the village
don't have toilets within their home,
they need to walk out to the fields
in the dark. Lack of visibility at
these times has caused a number of
incidents of snake bites. If people
choose to just wait until light is
available, there can be health concerns.
At the current time, most families
use candles, kerosene lanterns, gas
lanterns, flashlights, or some combination
of these during power outages. A few
families have access to car or truck
batteries and are able to continue
running all electrical devices during
power outages. (Details are provided
below.) However, each of these solutions
has difficulties associated with it.
High cost, low light output, and lack
of availability are most common.
It would be useful to invent a self-sufficient
lighting technology appropriate to
this location. One possible approach
to this challenge could be to find
more efficient battery powered lanterns
using available materials. Another
possibility is to design a light with
a self-sufficient, environmentally
friendly, and inexpensive power source.
There is also the possibility of non-electrical
solutions with greater light output
and/or fuel efficiency.
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| How will the local
community use the proposed solution? |
| If an inexpensive
and efficient lighting source is designed,
the community would be able to use this
technology in their homes to continue
work when lighting isn't available and
to have better visability when cooking,
cleaning or studying.
If mobile, the lighting source could
also be used to see when leaving the
home, which would increase safety.
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| Estimate of the economic
benefit anticipated and plans for training
of the local community? What are the
major impacts on such a project? |
| An appropriate design
would benefit the community by providing
better visibility and allowing work
to continue despite power outages. A
design with greater light output would
put less strain on people's eyes. Safety
could be improved by providing mobile
lighting at night; specifically, the
number of incidences of snake bites
would probably be reduced.
Training of the community would occur
through Vigyan Ashram, a local NGO
that would be a link for this technology
to enter the community.
Major impacts other than those previously
listed are not expected.
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| Full description of
the local situation (e.g. social, economic,
geographical, political) |
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As mentioned previously, a number
of lighting options are currently
used.
| Light Source |
Availability |
Cost (Rupees) |
Fuel |
Fuel Cost (Rupees) |
Fuel Duration |
Light Output |
| Candle |
Common |
10-20 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Low |
| Kerosene Lamp |
Common |
300-400 |
Kerosene |
10-20 per liter |
- |
Low-Medium |
| Gas Lamp |
Less Common |
550 |
Gas |
23 per liter |
4-5 hours/liter |
High |
Electric Lantern |
Less Common |
1200 |
Battery |
200-250 per battery |
1-6 months/battery |
High |
*Information for this chart comes
from information gathered directly
from villagers using these lighting
sources, but high variability was
seen in some answers and so were not
included.
The most commonly used lighting sources
are candles and kerosene lamps, with
almost every household owning these
materials. Reasons for kerosene lamp
usage mostly include availability
and low cost. Some villagers feel
there is no need to upgrade to battery
powered lanterns. Another villager
voiced concerns about harmful emissions
of kerosene lanterns. It should also
be noted that while a price is quoted
for kerosene lanterns, some families
are able to make their own with a
metal container and thin rope, without
purchasing an expensive lamp.
Villagers that do have battery powered
lanterns usually don't used them often
as they are somewhat expensive. One
model found is the Sunca Model SF1278A,
which one villagers describes as low
quality even though he owns it. This
type of lantern is available in the
local market but is difficult to maintain.
One villager explained that the tube
lights used in it (which cost Rs.
50 each) must be replaced every 3-4
months, and the battery must be replaced
every 6 months for Rs. 200-250.
Gas lanterns are less common due
to high cost, but are occasionally
used to provide better lighting for
public gatherings or when a family
has guests.
Another, rarer, solution is the use
of lead-acid (car) batteries to power
electric devices during power cuts.
These are less available, and villagers
who have them usually have contacts
who are truck drivers or who travel
to the city often. One villager uses
a 3800 rupee lead-acid battery connected
to a 550 Watt inverter to power his
computer, lights, and other electric
devices. This battery illuminates
a 40 watt bulb for up to 25 hours
before requiring recharging. The battery
lifetime is approximately 2 years,
after which it needs repair or replacement.
Repairs are as costly as buying a
new battery.
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| Full description of
relevant infrastructure available locally
and/or internationally |
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Also available at Vigyan Ashram are
LEDs. These are imported from Hong
Kong or Thailand. They cost 7 Rupees
per LED and 50 Rupees for a socket
that holds approximately 24 LEDs.
Alternative power sources such as
biogas, rain energy, solar energy,
etc are being considered for this
community and could likewise be considered
as part of a design for this challenge.
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