I wish to share a great innovation from my birth place ?Kolkata? in India which is also called the ?City of joy? . The solar energy experts along with scientists of the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences is now offering solar jackets that keep the person wearing the jacket, cool during extreme summer conditions at outdoor under scorching heat of the sun.

The jacket is installed with fans inside that become operational as soon as they come in contact with the solar energy. The jacket is nothing but a 'portable electric fan'. It has two layers the inner one has thread-like wires that are integrated with four solar cells at the back of the jacket and with the rechargeable batteries placed inside. Once the solar cells get activated, the mini computer-operated fans get charged and start functioning, thereby creating a wind flow inside the jacket. One starts feeling cool as the sweat evaporates.

The cost of the jacket is also kept very low at this stage – INR 1400 to 1600 (approx. USD 25) and expected to be lower in future when demand increases. With this, there is also a great possibility of bringing up an industry that will promote and develop climate friendly environment.

They will be very beneficial for people like traffic police, security workers, constructions workers and other labourers who have to work under harsh weather conditions for a long time.