Vinisha Umashankar
Student/Thinker/Innovator/Social Entrepreneur
SOLAR IRONING CART
For further information about the images in the gallery, click on the gallery to reveal image descriptions.
FACTS
There may be around 10 million Ironing Carts in India, together burning around 50 million kilograms of charcoal everyday. It is neither sustainable nor renewable. The Solar ironing cart provides a solution to eliminate the usage of charcoal and potentially help reverse climate change.
IGNITE AWARD
My innovation 'The Solar Ironing Cart' won the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Award in 2019, conducted by the National Innovation Foundation. It is a prestigious national award for students under the age of 18 in India.
CHILDRENS
CLIMATE
PRIZE
The Solar Ironing Cart also won the 'Childrens Climate Prize 2020' in the Clean Air category. It is an International competition to encourage students to come up with innovative solutions to climate problems. I have been awarded a Diploma, Medal and 100,000 SEK (8.6 lakhs in Indian rupees).
The patent for the Solar ironing cart has been applied and is yet to be approved.
Introduction
There could be 100 Lakh (10 Million) ironing carts in India and each burn about 5+ Kg of charcoal every day. That’s about 5 Crore (50 Million) Kg of charcoal burnt every day! Imagine the size of damage it does to Mother Nature. So, I have designed an ironing cart, which use solar panels to power a steam iron box. The ironing cart comprises of solar panels as roof, power transformer, power controller, tall tubular battery and steam iron box. The significant benefit of my innovation is that it eliminates the need of charcoal for ironing clothes. Thus, saving trees, stopping deforestation, controlling pollution and preventing environmental damage. Making use of renewable energy is the aim of my innovation.
Idea Inspiration
In my neighbourhood, there are six ironing carts, which use charcoal and throw the burnt charcoal away with the garbage. It definitely made me think about the number of ironing carts in India, the amount of charcoal burnt and the damage it does to the land, water, air and environment. So, I researched for a viable solution and found that using solar power can effectively substitute the use of charcoal to heat an iron box. Making use of the renewable energy is the aim of my innovation.
Gist Gallery
My innovation, the solar ironing cart has direct impact on 13 of the 15 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. It uses a renewable energy, eliminates the use of charcoal, saves millions of trees and has a sustainable business model.
In India and most developing countries, a cast iron box is heated by using charcoal for pressing clothes by vendors on a cart. There could be 10 million ironing carts in India, which burn about 5 million kilogram of charcoal every day! It is insane.
My innovation, the solar ironing cart can eliminate the usage of charcoal and save millions of trees. It will prevent deforestation, decrease pollution, limit ecological damage, improve farming output, stop climate change and pause global warming. The solar ironing cart is built on an integral-type metal frame and has solar panels, power controller, power booster, battery and iron box. It can be fitted with a GSM PCO, charging points and mobile recharging services for earning further income.
My innovation, the solar ironing cart has direct impact on 13 of the 15 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. It uses a renewable energy, eliminates the use of charcoal, saves millions of trees and has a sustainable business model.