From Soda Bottle to Solar Light Bulb

Syed Ahmed

Currently working as an Engineer-in-training for the Process Safety Management Group with Agrium Wholesale at Agrium's Fort Saskatchewan Nitrogen Operations facility.

Completed B.Eng in Chemical Engineering with specialization in Process Systems Engineering from McMaster University.

Previous work experience in various industries including Energy Management, Nuclear, and Pharmaceutical.

September 23, 2011

Most of us take lighting for granted, flicking the switch on and off as many times as we please, or leaving it on long hours and wasting energy. However, this isn't the case for many poverty stricken place around the world where people can't even afford to light their own homes. Demi (aka Solar Demi), who comes from a very small village (San Vicente) in the Philippines, came up with a solution to bring light to his village. His invention, the solar bottle light bulb, is an alternative source of light powered by the sun. It is inexpensive, made from recyclable materials, easy to assemble, and can provide light equivalent to a 55-Watt bulb. You can see his invention in the video panel at right.

Recipe for the Solar Bottle Light Bulb

1.) Fill the 1.5 liter clear soda bottle with filtered water, then add 3 tablespoons of liquid bleach and tightly seal the cap. 2.) Cut a hole the size of the bottle's circumference in the roof sheet material and place the bottom part of the bottle leaving it exposed under the sunlight. 3.) Make hole on the roof of the house to firmly fix the solar bottle light bulb in place. 4.) Seal the roof with sealant to prevent any rainfall from entering the house. Light is produced when the water inside the bottle bulb refracts and spreads the light inside the house. So far 643 solar bottle light bulbs have been installed and the goal is to reach a million in 2012. You can help their efforts by donating here. What do you think of this amazing invention?

Photo: Isang Litrong Liwanag

Comments

SO GREAT. LOVE IT!

Wow, so great. The future is headed for all green lighting like never before. so environment friendly. fantastic.

Ahhmm, Read about this invention before. Read the selection of a news article that I copied and pasted below. "A "light bulb" now exists that does not use any conventional energy. Introducing the Solar Bottle Bulb -- an alternative source of daylight powered by the sun. It is made from an old soda bottle. By filling it with water and sealing it into the roof, the water refracts the sun's rays and provides about 55 watts of light to a darkened room. This was invented in 2006 by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It can be built and installed in less than 1 hour, and uses inexpensive or recycled materials. The water is mixed with some bleach and does not need replacing for about 2 years."

Solar Demi did not come up with this solution. It was the brainchild of a social activist named Alfredo Mozer from Brazil. He spread it around the world to help the poor.

Correct, Melissa. Alfredo Mozer invented it in 2002 during a blackout. Which doesn't stop other Johnny-come-latelys laying claim to it.