People in developing countries are leapfrogging our 19th century technology (Slate)

Paul_in_Maryland said:

Slate article: "[nearly] unbreakable LEDs are easily paired with solar power, and so in poor communities, what seems excessive to us becomes a long-lasting investment that bypasses both inefficient incandescents and the lumbering power grid."

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LEDninja said:

This kind of thing has been going on for a long time. I remember reading in a technical journal over 10 years ago a charity in Nepal persuaded Lumileds to give them a large quantity of out of spec LEDs. Then they provided employment to locals to make LED torches. Solar panels were not available back then so their next project was to figure out how to build chargers for rechargeable batteries. (Exercise bike driving a generator.) Inexpensive parts, local labour.

Meanwhile in North America we use the same solar/LED technology to light up our lawns at night.

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