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Saving
Power - The Solar Way
Concept of alternative energy
is catching on fast in the city. The option of solar lamps is an advantage
to the consumers, says
M. Soundariya Preetha
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The
Construction industry is certainly growing leaps and bounds in
this textile city. Complementing this boom are the new preferences
of customers and the trends in the industry, which are not restricted
to just the type of material used and design. Consumers now ask
for water and energy conservation systems in buildings, even in
houses.
While rain water harvesting and solar heaters are not new any more, the latest
in the market is solar lamps that make your house energy - efficient. |
Expensive
Gadgets
Currently,
remote areas and huge campuses use solar lamps. These come with batteries
and photovoltaic cells. Solar heaters are very useful in apartments
and for joint families. These will be useful more in houses of 1,500sq.ft
or more, says G.S. Balasubramaniam, a consultant structural
engineer. Normally, solar lamps are expensive and this has deterred
many from going in for these gadgets, he adds.
Coimbatore - based Cascade Electro Thermic Private Limited has come out with
a range of solar lamps priced between Rs. 450 and Rs. 8,000. These are for outdoor
lighting, used in gardens, on walls, passage and gates. A couple of models can
also be used in small water tanks. These have compact solar panels that absorb
sunlight in the morning hours enabling the lamps to burn in darkness. |
Outdoor
Purposes
" We
want to promote use of solar lamps for outdoor purposes, even on smaller
premises", says A. Mahesh, Managing Director
of the company. These lamps can be used eight hours continuously
and have batteries that can be replaced. The critical components
are imported.
The company has a strong dealer network in the South Indian market
and is targeting to sell about 5,000 pieces a month initially. A
normal consumer will not be able
to understand the technical details of the solar lamp. "We highlight the
brightness and duration of lighting factors to the consumers", he adds. |
Creating
Awareness
If a
customer understands his requirements such as where he wants the
lighting and for what purpose,
then it becomes affordable, says Mr.
Mahesh. Hence,
the company has come out with a booklet with all details about the
lamps, the brightness, purpose, dos and don'ts
and how to install them. "You should look at it as a solar gadget
that gives illumination, not as a light." The consumer also
saves on energy costs to a great extent.
The company already makes
solar water heaters and has just introduced the solar lamps (20 to
25 varieties apart from the regular range)
in the market.
While the basic models are more of "accent lighting", the
other varieties
are for different purposes.
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- Range
of Products: 20 to 25
- Cost:
Rs. 450 to Rs. 8,000 a piece
- Uses:
outdoor lighting
- Initial
market: South Indian cities
- Sales
target: 5,000 pieces a month
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