INNOVATION: LITER OF LIGHT
MyShelter Foundation believe that green
technology is for everyone. Unfortunately, it’s only accessible to those who
can afford it. That’s why the foundation is taking sustainable building
solutions to the grassroots level—the people who are in most need of low-cost
infrastructures. These ideas are easily replicable, scalable, and of course,
only use materials that are sourced from local communities
A Liter of Light is a program inspired by many innovations from around
the world. Many cultures have used glass bottles to allow lighting through the roof. What must be emphasized the
amount of people whose lives are being affected by this innovation. Alfredo
Moser of Brazil has experimented with solar bulbs in his home town in Brazil
which has been expanded by into a day and night innovation.
The Technology
What do you get with
sunshine and an old plastic bottle filled with water and chlorine? Thanks to Alfred
Moser and a group of MIT students, you get a 55-watt solar bulb that refracts
sunlight! It’s powerful enough to light up a home but more than that it’s
environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and easy to make.
The Movement
The Liter of Light
began in the Philippines with one bottle light. Eventually, the movement grew
to brighten up 28,000 homes and the lives of 70,000 people in Metro Manila
alone. Now Liter of Light is present in India, Indonesia, and even as far away
as Switzerland.
The Future
MyShelter Foundation
is relying on volunteers like you to spread the Liter of Light movement where it’s
needed. Using the Philippines as our home base, we want one million bottle
lights installed around the world by 2015.
HOW TO BUILD A SOLAR BOTTLE BULB
Materials
•PET soda bottle
•Galvanized Iron (GI) sheet
•Epoxy/Rubber sealant
•Bleach
•Filtered Water
- Cut approximately 9 x 10 inches of GI sheet (corrugated or flat, depending on the roof where Solar Bottle Bulb will be installed).
- At the center of the GI sheet, draw 2 circles (outer: similar to the circumference of the soda bottle; inner: 1 cm smaller). Cut the inner, smaller circle.
- Cut the 1 cm difference radially, making strips and bend upwards, perpendicular to the GI sheet.
- Using sandpaper, scratch the surface around the upper third portion of the PET bottle where the GI sheet will be placed, to allow the epoxy or rubber sealant to stick better.
- Insert the bottle into the GI sheet until the upper third. Apply rubber sealant on the strips above and around the area below. Wait to dry.
- Fill the PET bottle with filtered water and ~10 mL (2 capfuls) of bleach. Cover with its original cap.
HOW TO INSTALL THE SOLAR BOTTLE BULB
- Cut a hole on the roof, similar to the bottle circumference.
- Apply rubber sealant around the hole.
- Place the solar bottle bulb into the hole. Make sure it is firmly in place.
- Drill 3-4 holes on each side of the solar bottle bulb and put in the rivets.
- Apply rubber sealant on all sides of the GI sheet of the solar bottle bulb to avoid leakage. Make sure to cover the rivets.
- Place a protective plastic tube on the bottle cap and apply rubber sealant.
THE SOLAR BOTTLE BULB HAS BEEN
INSTALLED TO PROVIDE ~55 WATTS OF LIGHT
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