A Liter of Light

Yesterday my sister in law told me about a project underway in the slums of the Philippines which uses the simplest of technology to have a hugely significant impact on the poor. Isang Litrong Liwanag, or A Liter of Light, is..." a sustainable lighting project which aims to bring the eco-friendly Solar Bottle Bulb to disprivileged communities nationwide. Designed and developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Solar Bottle Bulb is based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies – a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities." (from website http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/)

A pop bottle filled with liquid installed into the corrugated aluminum roof of a home in this area can harness sunlight shed the equivalent of a 55 watts bulb! People who couldn't stay in their houses during the day because of the darkness have found a new place in their own homes.  Inspiring to see what can come of available materials and a little ingenuity. See the video that describes that project and it's impact on these residents of Manila: