The world is not getting smaller, but is becoming more full of life – humans to be exact. Increasing demands for water, shelter and electricity are issues that are not going away in the near future. With this in mind, a new solution has been found to meet the high demand for electricity. While the solution may be flawed, it is an answer nonetheless. In Brazil 2002, during an energy crisis, local community members found a way to harness the sunlight into a light source to be used inside buildings. Taking a 2-liter clear bottle, two cap-sized portions of bleach, and water to fill the bottle, the bottle acts as a powerless light bulb. The bottle is then placed in a hole in the ceiling where the sun can enter on the exposed end of the bottle then refract the light into the building. There are many additions to the powerless light bulb that make this idea a custom fit to each users' wants. One man took a box and covered the water bottle on the inside of his house, and installed a sliding door on the bottom. This allowed him to control how much light was being permitted into his home, and where in the house light was shining. Another innovative user took the same idea of the water light bulb and added some pipes and mirrors. This man lived on the first floor of a three-storey building. By adding a long tube, the man put the water bottle at the top of the pipe where the bottle could meet the sunlight. Then installing mirrors in the pipe and other strategic places, the man was able to guide the light from outside, into the bottle, down the pipe and into the house. Brazilian users, where the idea originated, place black film-lids over the caps of the bottles to make the lids last longer and be less sun damaged. After seeing the impact and demand for the new light bulbs, many businesses, both local and foreign, and NGOs jumped at the opportunity to help further push the new invention. NGOs like Isang Litrong Liwanag (“A Liter of Light”) have already begun to install approximately 10,000 bottles in the Philippines. This proves not only to be a potential solution to the lack of access to electricity, but also may stimulate the economy due to the market for the light bulbs. Some people, thanks to micro-lending and access to resources, have even begun to make a business out of the bottle light bulb. One man, Demi Bucras in the Philippines, now works at installing these lights for the community. His addition to the solar bottle lights: metal sheets. Bucras takes the metal sheets and cuts a small hole. He then puts the bottle into the hole and creates a secure fit. Next, he cuts the same size hole into the roof and places the bottle into the hole. The metal sheet keeps out unwanted weather, like heat and rain, while still allowing the sun light in. Within a month of the first solar bulbs in Buras community in the Philippines, over a 1,000 ‘bulbs' were installed. Burcras says he even had to quit his job because the demand was high, and the money was good. Many critics say this sun light-driven light bulb is creative, but it is not a lasting solution. Questions concerning lack of access to water, multiple storey buildings, maintenance, and how to have light at night time are some of the main criticisms of the water bottle light bulb. While the light bulbs cannot power homes at night, it can save electricity from being used during the day, which can then be used at night, or saved for other purposes. This can help reduce electricity bills and that money as well can be allocated towards other expenses. The light bulbs not only work during sunny days, but also on cloudy days as well. Water refracts light at 360 degrees which means that any source of light can be used to create the light bulb. Users also state that opening a door or window only allows so much light in, and usually much heat or cold. The light bulbs in the ceiling allow for more light to be let in, and in controlled areas, without heating or freezing the house. “It's nice to have the lights in the house. I can see what I am doing better and the light is above me not off to the side,” said one user in Chile. The woman in Chile shares how the water light bulbs were installed in the church and has affected the community greatly; the church saved $23 on a electric bill because of the light bulbs, which helped tremendously. After being introduced 10 years ago, the power-less light bulbs have been spread across countries like Brazil, Chile, China, Haiti, India, Mexico, Philippines and more than likely even more. The light bulbs may not be the best solution but many people are thankful for the innovation and claim it is one way to reducing poverty, reduce plastic in landfills, and furthering energy independence. Plastic may be the evil of the 21st century, but this new solution is harnessing evil for good. BM
