Designing inclusive energy solutions in 75 minutes
As part of the "DO GOOD" series, 8 students had the opportunity to work with experts on designing inclusive energy solutions on June 14th, 2012. The afternoon workshop brought together students from different schools and subjects around a common task: to create not the next cheap lamp, but integrated energy business models that work for the poor. Not an easy challenge, especially if one has only 75 minutes to solve it! The outcomes ranged from a "razor-and-blades" type rent-a-battery model, to lamps and panels shaped like coca-cola bottles, to financing schemes that raise village funds by selling handmade goods to Western companies. A proof that interdisciplinary work really makes for creative solutions!
To kick off the work, JC Diehl led students through the design process for solutions for low-income markets. Rustam Sengupta of Boond and Endeva Associated Expert complemented this presentation with a perspective from the sales-side, showing what makes a good product that actually sells with low-income people.