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LuminAID lights were invented to fill a need for safe, sustainable lighting after disasters. As we see natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires grow stronger and everyday weather become more extreme, we seek not to exacerbate the problem, but rather to mitigate our impact on the environment. Here's how:
Every LuminAID solar lantern and phone charger packs flat, allowing us to transport our lights to humanitarian partners, customers, and warehouses while emitting less carbon into the atmosphere. Because we can fit more LuminAID lights in the same space that traditional solar lanterns would occupy, we can efficiently ship more lights to those that need it and minimize the consequences for the environment. This is particularly important when we ship large quantities of solar lanterns to our humanitarian partners after a natural disaster or other crisis.
Our solar lanterns and phone chargers are constructed with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a medical-grade plastic material and more environmentally-friendly alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Unlike PVC, TPU doesn’t release or contain dioxins, lead, or phthalates during production, nor over the course of the product's lifetime. Using TPU over PVC minimizes the impact that our factories have on their surroundings and ensures that no hazardous chemical byproducts end up either in landfills or in your hands.
At the heart of LuminAID’s commitment to the environment is solar energy. Our high-efficiency solar panels not only harness the renewable energy of the sun, but they replace environmentally unfriendly alternatives such as propane gas and traditional batteries. LuminAID’s solar panels work in conjunction with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which boast upwards of 1,000 recharge cycles, as opposed to traditional batteries (think AA batteries), which are less energy-dense and can be used only once. When these traditional batteries are disposed of, they release hazardous chemicals, such as lead and cadmium into the air, water, and earth. Our choice to harness solar energy and use a rechargeable battery plays a small role in keeping dangerous chemicals out of landfills.
In addition to making their software tools free or low-cost for nonprofits, many companies are also publishing guides on how to effectively transition to remote work and collaborate while staying home. If you're leading your nonprofit through a transition like this, we wanted to put together some resources that will help you see what others have done, and understand best practices for your organization's security, productivity, and communications to stakeholders.
With many nonprofits shifting to remote work abruptly due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, we've prioritized adding new remote work options and tools to the resources we share. As you review the software below, note that there may be different levels of discounts for nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 versus nonprofits actively working on a cure or frontline healthcare for COVID-19. Do you know about a resource we should add to this list? You can submi...