D.light wins Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy
Congratulations to our friends at D.light Design, who are having a fantastic run the last couple of weeks. On June 24, it was announced they had just closed a $5.5 million (USD) Series B financing round, led by the Omidyar Network. To follow that up, on July 1, D.light Design was awarded the prestigious Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy, the world’s leading green energy prize.
D.light was chosen as the gold award winner (£40,000 prize), leading a field of five other international winners chosen for their pioneering work in benefiting communities across the globe and saving thousands of tons of CO2 through the innovative use of sustainable energy technologies.
According to the press release, D.light was chosen for – in the words of the judges – “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 through the design, manufacture and promotion of durable and affordable solar lanterns in India and across the developing world. The judges 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.”
About D.light Design
D.light Design designs and manufactures high quality consumer products for families without access to reliable electricity. Their mission is to enable households without reliable electricity to attain the same quality of life as those with electricity. They will begin by replacing every kerosene lantern with clean, safe and bright light. By 2020, the organization aims to improve the lives of 100 million people. To learn more, visit: www.dlightdesign.com
About the Ashden Awards
The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy were founded in 2001 to encourage the greater use of local sustainable energy to address climate change and alleviate poverty. Since then they have rewarded over 140 winners across the UK and the developing world. The Ashden Awards work to showcase and celebrate best practice, encourage the expansion and replication of winners’ work, raise awareness of the potential of local sustainable energy, and advocate on their winners’ behalf. For further information: www.ashdenawards.org. The Ashden Awards Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.
