Innovation & Design  Solar Star  The Solar Lampion is an
aesthetically pleasing light that runs entirely on solar energy.
It's a shining example of technology and design  I recently
moved into a top-floor apartment and have been looking for solar
lamps that I could use on the roof deck, which is bathed in
sunlight all day—a never-ending source of free energy. I wanted
a lamp that would store power during the day and release it at
night, when I may be having dinner with friends or reading a
book in the evening's breeze. Yes, I know solar lamps don't come
cheap, but at least there's no need to run wiring, and
maintenance requirements are low.  What I found was initially
pretty disappointing—uninteresting and tacky plastic or metal
objects made to be tucked away in garden corners and along
walkways, installed on posts or pedestals, or mounted on wall
fixtures, making their presence felt only when they lit up.
Moreover, most of the available options featured only a small
area of solar cells, and hence a relative