Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund: Innovator Series – Bboxx
To help create an alternative to charcoal irons, the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund supported Bboxx in developing a direct current (DC) iron that would be compatible with solar home systems.
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Irons are highly important for many people living in off- and weak-grid locations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Neat, ironed clothes enable people to work in professional environments.
However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, charcoal irons are the most commonly used irons. These irons use heated charcoal inside them, which becomes extremely hot and can burn people and clothes. They are expensive to run and pollute the environment. Furthermore, they are inefficient, making ironing time-intensive, and this burden usually falls on women and children. To help create an alternative to the charcoal iron, Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund supported Bboxx to develop a direct current (DC) iron that would be compatible with solar home systems. Bboxx’s iron aimed to be efficient, durable, safe, and affordable and reduce ironing time.
The project won funding in our 2018 Open Call for applications. Explore key insights from the project in this report.