By supplying clean water, Sulis transforms lives.
Sulis is a simple and innovative technology for water sanitation. In many parts of the world, clean water is a luxury that cannot be taken for granted. Water scarcity is a global issue that affects more than 40% of the world population today. Collectively, women and children spend 140 million hours daily collecting water, which does not even account for the time that they spend each day cleaning that water. Collecting and cleaning water takes time away from work, school, and caring for family, which locks families in a cycle of poverty. In addition to the economic and safety risks, health is a serious concern. It is devastating to consider that over a thousand children die from a preventable water-related disease every day. There is a desperate need for a safer, more reliable way to access clean water. We need a solution that allows people to clean the contaminated water they do have available.
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Sulis is the solution. We have developed a groundbreaking technology that harnesses the power of sunlight to clean water. Sulis is affordable, sustainably produced, and effective at generating potable water without depending on infrastructure. Our technology eliminates pathogens from the water source, drastically improving the health and wellbeing of those without naturally safe water. By giving individuals the ability to easily clean the water they have nearby with only solar energy, Sulis saves users those long hours collecting the wood and buying the kerosene needed to boil their water. This enables people to stay in school and at work for more hours, gives them the freedom to start their own businesses, and allows them to improve their own standard of living, rather than depending on others. In essence, Sulis does more than provide clean water, it empowers.
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What We Need & What You Get
To start manufacturing the Sulis devices and get them to our partners in India, Haiti, and Puerto Rico, we need $20,000 to finalize our research and development. This step is essential in ensuring that Sulis meets all global health standards of water sanitization and that our design is as intuitive as possible.
This summer, we are headed as a team to India to run our pilot program, where we will be establishing relationships in the region, testing our latest prototype on site, and ensuring cultural fit. The only way water solutions succeed is through real cultural adoption, and that can only happen by working closely with the communities we intend to serve.
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Your gift will have lasting impact. Contributing to Sulis now will ensure the longevity of this life-saving tool. All donations will go towards running our pilot program and bringing Sulis into the hands of those suffering from lack of access to clean water.
And in exchange for a gift, you get perks! See the sidebar for what you get if you donate a gift of $5, $10, $20, $75, $150, $300, $1000, or $2500.
The Design
Sulis is designed to be sustainably produced, affordable, and effective at generating potable water - the very same water that is so desperately needed for drinking, bathing, and irrigating fields.
Our device uses reflectors to concentrate solar radiation into the container of water, where it then interacts with a metal catalyst to sanitize the water. Our current model sanitizes 12 liters of water in 7 hours, the minimum amount that the average individual in a developing country needs for their entire daily use.
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The reflected sunlight shines on the catalyst and excites electrons in the oxide layer. The excited electrons then react with the water to produce free radicals, which kill the pathogens and break down harmful organic compounds. Once the process is complete, the user is left with clean water. No waste is produced and there are no parts that need to be replaced.
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The Impact
By donating to Sulis, you will make a difference in someone's life. Through harnessing solar energy, we use 7 times less energy than electric sterilizers and 1000 times less energy than that needed to boil water.
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By not relying on gas or electricity, Sulis fundamentally transforms the energy usage of households in developing nations. People can conserve the time, money, and energy that they would have used trying to clean their water, and instead focus on long-term goals such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.
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The Sulis device functions independently of infrastructure and produces no waste. Unlike other devices that rely on the constant replacement of expensive filters, our device can function on its own for over a decade. By intentionally selecting easily accessible materials, the Sulis device can be sustainably sourced and locally manufactured, allowing us to employ members of the very same communities we seek to serve.
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There is an undeniable connection between access to clean water, health, employment, and agriculture - what started off as a simple energy savings quickly transforms into an improvement in the overall quality of life.
Who We Are
Sulis is a team of student entrepreneurs who are committed to filling the gap in the water sanitation market. We met as Rutgers University students and united around the shared belief that we can change the lives of millions around the world cheaply and sustainably with nothing more than the natural power of sunlight.
The original concept for the device was developed through a course at the Rutgers University Honors College called “Honors College Forum.” The team then applied and was accepted into the Honors College Innovation Lab program, which serves as an incubator for social innovation ventures developed in the Forum course. The initial idea iterated with extensive research performed to establish the scientific validity of the device, to identify target markets, and to connect with industry experts. Through the continued, generous support of the Honors College, Sulis has progressed towards commercialization.
SULIS has also participated in the Rutgers I-Corps program and conducting customer discovery interviews which provided many insights regarding the need for water sanitation technologies.
Sulis is on a mission to harness the power of energy in order to supply clean water to 10 million lives by 2025 to transform the lives of those people. We are competing in the international Hult Prize competition with other social entrepreneurs from all over the world, vying for the coveted $1 million dollar prize. This past March we placed first in the Boston Regional competition, securing our spot in the Hult Prize Accelerator in London this summer along with 40 of the best energy-based social innovations of our time.
So, why are we the right people for this job? Sulis is a team with diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise.
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Anurag is studying Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Business Administration, and Spanish. His passion and commitment for addressing the public health epidemic in India has been the driving force behind Sulis since its inception.
Yuki is studying Chemistry and Sociology and is a published nano-materials research assistant. He applies his practical experience in chemistry in leading our research and development testing of the Sulis technology.
Sarah is studying Management, Entrepreneurship, and Social Justice. Her extensive experience with developing social entrepreneurial ventures and founding student organizations has enabled her to spearhead the development of Sulis as a business entity.
Ari is studying Industrial and Systems Engineering and Economics. He has worked with water sanitation technology in past projects through an Israeli cleantech innovation competition. He brings experience in graphic design, manufacturing processes, 3D modeling, and developing schematics to both develop our branding and design our suite of devices.
And we aren’t in this alone. Sulis is supported by a highly qualified board of professionals who are integral in taking our product from prototype to manufacturing to end consumer distribution.
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