Nokero Sheds Light on a World Living Without Electricity
As you read this post, take a look at your surroundings. Is there a light on nearby? Are you reading this on your computer? Maybe you even just brewed a cup of coffee, or grabbed something to eat from your refrigerator. While the average person might think next to nothing of these everyday tasks, they all require a certain luxury that millions across the globe cannot afford. That luxury? Electricity.
According to Steve Katsaros, the Founder of Nokero, roughly one in five humans lives without electricity. According to an article from the Washington Post in 2015, that number equates to almost 1.3 billion people. To help that number sink in, imagine the entire United States not having access to electricity. And then multiply that number by four.
It was this revelation that hooked Steve Katsaros on the idea of founding a company to create solar bulbs for those without light. Katsaros admitted that his original intent was to create a company based in U.S. markets that focused on construction sites without electricity. But when he learned about the devastating effects and monumental cost of kerosene, his model changed. And in 2010, Nokero (which stands for “no kerosene”) was born.
Today, the company’s headquarters lie in ULC’s Tramway Nonprofit Center. The space, which is depicted in images below, looks more like an artist’s studio than a traditional office building. Beautiful works of graffiti cover the wall, along with canvas images of Nokero’s impact across the globe.
Their staff size is still quite small, with four in Denver and three more abroad in China, where production takes place. One employee is actually Steve’s brother Chris Katsaros, who joined the team in August of 2010. Despite their limited numbers, Nokero has mastered the art of production, and can mass produce up to 10,000 light fixtures in one single day. Katsaros explained that they can fit 150,000 lights in a single shipping container. Nokero estimates that five people benefit from each light, which means that one shipping container full of Nokero’s solar lights can reach 750,000 people. This is equal to the population of Denver and Boulder combined!
With a solid method of production and a serious need across the globe, Katsaros said the company’s current need involves partnerships. In 2012, after Nokero pledged to support the United Nations’ 2012 Sustainable Energy for All initiative, the band Linkin Park played a concert for the Rio + Social event beneath an array of Nokero’s solar lights. Katsaros explained that finding the right partners to help with funding and leading in country distribution is a must.
With work across the globe – from Indonesia, to east Africa to Guatemala – Nokero is making waves in the world of sustainable energy. The company actually won the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s “Patents for Humanity” in 2013. Moving forward, Katsaros said he hopes to double Nokero’s business in 2017. And I think it is safe to say, their future is looking bright.
For more information on Nokero, please visit their website at www.nokero.com. If you have any information regarding potential partnerships, please contact Steve or Chris Katsaros via the company’s website. Nokero would also like to share a discount code with readers, which will offer 25% off your next purchase! Code: ULC.
Way to go ULC and Nokero, love the work you guys do!