Access to clean water, light for our homes, energy to keep our perishable foods cold. Much of what we take for granted these days is still considered a luxury in most parts of the world. In fact, the Smithsonian estimates that 90 percent of the world’s population (almost 5.8 billion people) have limited or no access to such luxuries.
“Design for the Other 90%” is an exhibition of over 30 design ideas worldwide, showcasing simple but groundbreaking design ideas that have and will transform the way the other 90 percent lives. The exhibition includes design ideas for shelter, health, water, education, energy, and transport innovations, many of which use available local materials in innovative ways.
Examples include:
- Portable lights made from recycled LEDs from pedestrian walk signals, cell-phone batteries, and dishwasher parts. The lights are sewn into bags for easy portability.
- A solar dish kitchen, where a collection of small vanity mirrors held together with bicycle parts focuses the sun’s heat onto a pot or stove (a similar concept to solar concentrators).
- A low-cost drip-irrigation kit to make local farming more feasible and encourage water conservation in developing countries. The kits are scalable, need very little water pressure, and cost much less than conventional systems. They are designed so that smaller farms can start with just a few, and seamlessly add more as they grow.
- A new long-term water collection and storage system that makes monsoon rainwater in
- An energy-efficient portable charcoal stove, which not only saves fuel but lowers exposure to emissions from normal charcoal and other fuel stoves.
Although these ideas are geared toward “the other 90 percent,” the simple design, reuse of existing materials, and focus on energy and water conservation are techniques that could well be used in our own communities.
Have you seen other low-tech solutions for everyday sustainability? We’d love to hear about them!
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