CARTFollow Us
Sign up for our Grommet email
This solar-powered flashlight is dependable and eco-friendly. Buy one and give one to a charity working where electricity is a luxury.
Talk about this Grommet
This looks amazing - so am I correct that the flashlight I'll get comes with a battery, ready to go (just needs to be charged first?) - and same for the battery that's "given?" And will you tell me who receives/where the flashlight I give ends up?
Amanda
on Jul 14, 2009
Fantastic. Two flash lights, one of which will be used half way around the world, and 2+ years of FREE light for $60! I'm curious. These look to be pretty durable. Any thoughts about their construction, and their ability to get banged around some.
Mark
on Jul 14, 2009
I would have loved one of these for myself (and my neighbors) while on my Peace Corps stint in the Congo. General batteries were certainly expensive and of dubious quality so the recharger makes good economic sense. Great highlight Grommeteers!
Jeff
on Jul 14, 2009
Special Guest Comment
Hi - the ever alert Grommet Team called me and asked me to respond - so, the batteries come with the light. They are NiMH AA batteries 800 mah. Which means they are not toxic, like NiCADs. Cost more, but no damage to people or environment. They last about 750 nights of every night use.
Our lights are in Afghanistan and Iraq, carried by our men and women. I served in the Marines and I am really happy to get them well made products. When we send to the UNHCR in Darfur, they have to work, so we do a lot of testing and we get great feedback from the field - they are very solidly made. I told the engineers - make it like a Hummer, but have it feel like a Rolex. I think we achieved this goal.
You can decide where you want the lights to go on our website.
All the best,
Mark
Mark
on Jul 14, 2009
Looks great and love the philosophy. Can you tell us what the flashlights are made from and where they are made?
Lynn
on Jul 14, 2009
Special Guest Comment
The lights are made from ABS plastic. I researched using recyclable and even bamboo plastic (combination of plastic and bamboo fibers) but we need the strength and quality, so we stuck with ABS. The bamboo plastic also turned out to be too thick. We also use photovoltaic - the solar panel, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) and rechargeable batteries. We also have a very large printed and through hole circuit board. We make these lights at a contract factory, American owned, in a free trade zone in China. We are very actively exploring adding a US based facility, probably here in Houston. Our design team is here and our enginnering staff is from New Zealand. It is a global flashlight in many ways.
Best - Mark
Mark
on Jul 14, 2009
Hi Mark,
I think this is a lovely thing that you are doing. You mentioned in the video that you love the African people. A friend of mine worked in the US foreign service in various African countries for many years and feels the same way about the people. Could you elaborate more about the African people themselves? Blessings to you and to Grommet for this!
Grace
on Jul 14, 2009
This is a great concept - and so much more portable than a BayGen (although those are great too). I'd like to gift to some friends in India and Kashmir whose power seems to be out more often than it's on.
Sarah
on Jul 23, 2010
Back to Business
Catalog
- ALL Grommets
- Art
- Books/Music
- Children
- Clothes/Accessories
- Crafts/Hobbies
- Decor
- Electronics/Technology
- Food/Drink
- Games/Toys
- Garden/Outdoor Living
- Gear
- Gift Ideas
- Graduation Gifts
- Green/Eco-Living
- Handcrafted
- Health/Beauty
- Household
- Jewelry
- Kitchen
- Made in the USA
- Office
- Pets
- Philanthropy
- Services
- Social Enterprise
- Special Offers
- Sports/Fitness
- Stationery
- Travel
- Wedding/Shower Gifts
All of us here at SunNight Solar are excited that Daily Grommet is featuring our BoGo lights! In the U.S. , we often take light for granted; flip a switch, and we get instant illumination. In many parts of the world, however, this is not the case, as one in three of our planet’s inhabitants – two billion people – still must rely on kerosene, candles, or conventional flashlights for illumination. These are expensive, dangerous, and harmful to the user with more than 1.6 million people each year dying from cancer from biomass and kerosene fumes. A lack of lighting also has the following negative consequences:
In many parts of the developing world, children cannot study at night due to the lack of lighting and high cost of kerosene, candles, or conventional single use disposable flashlights, and many cannot attend school during the day due to the need for labor for basic subsistence.
Safety and security is greatly enhanced when light is available.
The economic cost of kerosene is high, as much as 30% of income in some cases, according to the IFC. Lack of light impacts store closing hours and many small cottage industries must close at night, reducing potential revenue.
Health, especially for women and children, as they are inside huts and structures more often and breathe the biomass and kerosene fumes, is imperiled. The WHO estimates 1.6 million people a year die from cancer from these fumes. Kerosene fires also kill and injure many thousands of people annually.
The environment, via carbon emissions and deforestation is damaged. One kerosene lantern emits 100 kilos of carbon annually. Improper battery disposal also contaminates ground water.
Light increases community cohesion and increases overall quality of life.
Thank you again for viewing the Daily Grommet, and thank you for your interest in our BoGo lights.