Diwali, a festival of lights is celebrated in almost every state of India. Rows of lamps are lit inside and outside homes and buildings for this day. Diyas are traditionally used for this purpose but now various lighting products are available in the market. The one of the emerging product is Solar Diya, which is claimed to be more eco-friendly when compared to the traditional diyas.
Many people have sceptic views on this and the very first question comes in mind, are they really green? To answer this question, let’s compare the each and every components of traditional and solar Diya and it’s eco friendliness.
Components of traditional Diya
Diya (Body) – Traditionally it is made of mud which is sustainable and can be reused. This is used to hold oil and cotton wick.
Cotton Battis – The capillary action of cotton wicks helps draw oil effectively from Diya. This results in the lamp burning bright when lit.
Oil: Act as fuel.
Environmental Impact: Burning oil releases heat and gases to the atmosphere.
Components of Solar Diya
Diya (Body): Usually made up of plastic. This is used to mount electronic components and solar panel.
Solar Panel: Used for power generation.
Rechargeable Battery: Used for power storage.
PCBs: Connecting electrical components together including solar panels, battery, LEDs etc.
Environmental Impact: Plastic pollution, e-waste & hazardous waste generation (battery disposal).
Conclusion
So, on comparing both, one thing is clear that solar Diyas have more components then the traditional ones which itself is not eco-friendly. Plus Diyas are only used on certain occasions not throughout the year. Therefore, there are high chances for these product to remain single use like any other Chinese decorative lighting products, if happens so, this product is just another example of greenwashing.