Ingenious Ways the World’s Poorest People Generate Electric Light

Watch any news channel and it is easy to lose faith in humanity.  The news is often filled with stories that are shocking, horrible, and confusing.  Often leaving us with no sense as to what is going on.

It is refreshing therefore, when we see ingenious people doing things for the benefit of humanity, especially when the people that benefit are some of the world’s poorest.

In 2002, Alfredo Moser, a Brazilian mechanic used water filled with water to illuminate his house.   The idea simply involves filling plastic bottles with water and a little bleach to prevent algae.  The bottles are put into the ceiling where they refract sunlight.  Astonishingly, they generate between 50-60 watts of light.  The Moser lamps are now lighting millions of homes in Brazil.

 

Meanwhile in the Philippines

Although many slum homes in the Philippines have electricity the prices are so high in the Philippines that many people can’t afford to switch on the light.  Due to the cramped conditions of slum housing many homes are in darkness 24 hours a day.  Thanks to the ‘Litre of Light’ project which uses the same design, millions of people have affordable electric light.

Refreshingly, the man behind ‘Litre of Light’ Illac Diaz says he simply wants to fight climate change.  Using the bottles of water, it is estimated that the project has saved 3000 tons of CO2 a year.  They are planning to roll out the project to the poorest areas of the planet.

The project has inspired businesses to get involved, donating materials for the project free of charge.

Watch the video to learn more about this ingenious way to generate electricity and have a break from the news.