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Electric lighting is certainly something that we in developed countries take for granted. The idea of living without it is simply something we couldn’t imagine.

But for millions of people living in developing third world countries, such as the Philippines, Kenya and Bangladesh, something as commonplace as lighting a home is a luxury that many are forced to live without.

However, the development of a revolutionary form of completely free and sustainable lighting could be set to rectify this problem once and for all.

An Amazing Low-Tech Invention

The Litre of Light is the brainchild of Brazilian mechanic and inventor Alfredo Moser who, upon finding himself working during a blackout in 2002, decided to create an innovative light source from just a plastic bottle, along with some other very basic household materials.

The ‘Solar Bottle Bulb’, as it has also been dubbed, is installed in the roof of the home to refract sunlight create illumination. The project’s innovation lies in its utilization of cheap, durable and readily available materials like bleach and glue to produce high quality natural lighting, enabling the urban poor to have access to an affordable, environmentally friendly long-term alternative to electric light for use during the day.

How It’s Done

The 1.5 litre bottle is filled with water and a little bleach to deter algae build-up. It is then embedded into a corrugated iron roof, and a small part of the bottle remains outside while the rest of it protrudes into the house.

The refractive properties of the water ensure that the light from the sun reaches the inside of the bottle, transforming it into an omni-directional light source that mimics an electric light bulb, and emits the same amount of light as a 40–60 watt bulb.

This incredibly simple invention has been adopted by the MyShelter Foundation, which was established in 2006 by Illac Diaz, to create a system of sustainability and reliability through its capability-building and employment-generating projects.

Based on the concepts of social enterprise, appropriate low-cost technologies, and alternative construction in the Philippines, it has pioneered projects like the Litre of Light, as well as many others including the Pier One Seafarer’s Dormitory and the Design Against the Elements (DAtE) competition.

In spite of its obvious limitations, the Litre of Light is transforming the lives of many people who are too poor to afford conventional lighting in their homes, and shows the power of human imagination and ingenuity. Indeed, a number of homeowners in the US have adapted the idea as a way to combat spiralling energy charges.

Where America leads, the UK often follows, so you too could see this low-tech lighting solution over here in the not-too-distant future!