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Electrically-powered lighting is something that we should never take for granted, but in today’s technically advanced society, the idea of living without it is simply unimaginable.

Here in the Britain, we can depend upon energy efficient, long lasting LED lighting to keep our homes lit even when times get tough. However, for people living in poorer parts of the world, simpler, yet equally ingenious solutions must suffice.

The Amazing Litre Of Light

Unfortunately, the Philippines produces some of the most expensive electricity in Southeast Asia. This means that, for many, something as straightforward as lighting their home is a luxury they’re forced to live without.

However, thanks to the efforts of Filipino entrepreneur Illac Diaz and the brainchild of Brazilian inventor Alfredo Moser, disadvantaged people are now illuminating their homes in an incredibly cost-effective and imaginative new way.

The Litre of Light harnesses the power of the sun, and provides millions of people with a sustainable light source that costs virtually nothing to create and absolutely nothing to run.

Diaz’s MyShelter Foundation, which was established in 2006 to create a system of sustainability and reliability through its capability-building and employment-generating projects, has provided the platform from which the Litre of Light has been implemented in the homes of millions of people across the country.

How It Works:

A plastic bottle is filled with water and a small amount of bleach. The water effectively captures sunlight, diffracting it to all parts of the room.

The Technology:

This consists of a 1.5 litre clear, plastic drink bottle filled with purified water and ordinary household bleach. Special polymer glue is used to bond and seal the bottle into a hole in the roof of the dwelling. The bleach isn’t a part of the lighting process, but it kills any algae that would otherwise flourish in Southeast Asian climate, turning the water green, thereby ruining its light diffracting potential.

You can see just how this incredibly simple yet wonderfully effective invention is impacting upon the lives of hundreds of people of Sitio Maligaya in the Philippines, from this moving video:

It’s always inspiring to witness human endeavour overcoming adversity. Whilst LED lighting represents the end-product of hundreds of years of technological innovation, bestowing upon us lighting of excellent quality and energy-efficiency, these people have shown us that all it really takes is a bottle of water and a bright idea!

Let us know below, if you can think of any more ways in which to practice sustainable living.