This is a company that is specializing in LED lighting, has been extraordinarily effective in driving down the costs of high-efficiency lighting that is, over time, I think going to make a huge difference, not just for businesses who use the technology, but also for a country that needs to figure out how do we operate in a more energy-efficient way.

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"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, " the Ashden Awards said in a statement.

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Since solar lanterns have higher adoption rates than clean cook stoves, such alternatives to kerosene for lighting may provide quick, cost-effective data for promoting policies that reduce indoor air pollution.

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Almost 20% of global electricity consumption comes from lighting, so shifting lighting to LED technology is a cost-effective way to get change at scale.

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To outlaw traditional light bulbs would curtail the public's access to perhaps the cheapest and most effective means of making their homes more attractive, namely the thoughtful use of interior lighting.

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