The Luci solar lantern is inflatable so it is light and easy to ship
The Luci solar lantern is inflatable so it is light and easy to ship
Luci solar lanterns being introduced in Kenya
When social entrepreneurs Jacques-Philippe Piverger and John Salzinger travelled to Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 ‘quake, the two businessmen figured there just had to be a way to get the Caribbean nation back on its feet without falling back on charity.
The earthquake hit on January 12, and was the worst in 200 years. About 7.0 in magnitude, the ‘quake struck less than 15 kilometres from the Caribbean city of Port-au-Prince. This was later followed by 12 after shocks greater than magnitude 5.0.
Buildings, bridges, roads and national landmarks were damaged or collapsed. Millions displaced, thousands dead, and rescue teams from ‘round the world descended on Haiti to help where able.
HOW TO HELP HAITI
What Jacques-Philippe and John were able to contribute was a new company, with a vertical business structure, that could invent, manufacture and market a product designed for both the resource-rich and the resource-poor worlds. They called the company MPOWERD, and their product, an inflatable solar lamp called Luci.
“HAITI WAS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE” JOHN SAYS. “THERE WAS $3.4 BILLION EARMARKED FOR DEMOLITION AND RECOVERY, AND BY THE TIME WE SHOWED UP IT HAD NOT MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. WHEN I SAW SUCH A TRAVESTY, IT REALLY CHANGED MY VISION OF WHAT BUSINESS SHOULD AND COULD BE USED FOR.”
CAPITALISM CAN SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS
According to John, the business model created for MPOWERD is one in which the social imperative is both a bi-product and direct result of making money and company growth.
"CAPITALISM WORKS,” JOHN SAYS. “BUT WHAT I REALLY LIKE IS HOW CAPITALISM CAN SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE WORLD.”
The point, according to John, is that flexible and mobile solar lighting is in demand globally: it is needed for relatively resource-rich leisure pursuits like camping, boating and hiking, as well as for replacing dangerous candles and kerosene lamps in more resource-poor communities. And, of course, emergency breakdowns, power outages and natural disasters do not discriminate between wealth and poverty.
HOW IT WORKS
Deflated, the Luci light is about the size and weight of a CD case. It can be inflated just like a beach ball and has a power button at its base. It works using a solar-charged lithium ion battery and 10 white LED lights.
MPOWERD was launched in 2012. In 2013, the company partnered with GlobeScan Foundation to study the impacts the solar lamps had on the lifestyles of the rural Haitian families who had used the product.
The study’s report found recipients no longer needed kerosene lamps. About 90 percent said they had noticed a decline in breathing problems and eye irritations. The same number reported fewer fire hazards and incidences of theft during the evening hours.
LUCI LIGHTS THE WAY
Since then, MPOWERD has launched a “family” of Luci lights to suit each of its markets, ranging in cost from US$10 to US$25.
The latest, the Luci Lux, is designed as a home decor product, while the Luci Original, weighing four ounces and collapsing to less than an inch, is suitable for travel or emergency preparedness. The Luci Outdoor is packaged specifically for outdoor camping, while the Luci Aura provides coloured mood lighting.
But what John is most excited about is how each new product is designed with a battery that lasts longer than the last. When MPOWERD started with Luci Original in 2012, the battery lasted three years, but now it can keep going for up to ten. A fully-charged battery will keep Luci lit for 12 solid hours.
HITTING THE GLOBAL MARKET
According to MPOWERD Communications Manager, Jessica Souza, to date, Luci lights are being used in over 60 countries – in places as diverse as the UK, Japan, India, Zambia, and Australia.
The better the company does in developed markets, like in the United States, the more it’s able to enter emerging or developing markets globally.
“HIGHER SALES VOLUMES FUEL OUR ABILITY TO SUSTAINABLY BRING OUR PRODUCTS TO MARKETS IN AFRICA, ASIA, OR LATIN AMERICA,” JESSICA SAYS. “WE LIKE TO SAY WE’RE DOING GOOD BY DOING WELL.”
MPOWERD believes in making its clean energy solutions available to people all over the world. It’s putting solar in the hands of average citizens anywhere from New York to Namibia.
“OUR IMPACT WORK IS NOT SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF OUR COMPANY OPERATIONS OR STRATEGY – IT’S AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE,” JESSICA SAYS. “IT’S JUST IN OUR DNA.”
PARTNERSHIP WITH KOPERNIK
Kopernik is currently looking for local partners interested in connecting this technology with last mile communities. Learn more on our website, and submit a local partner enquiry here.
