THESE LIGHTS HELP LIFT PEOPLE UP

Light is a beautiful thing. It establishes our visual experience with the world around us. It sets the bar for aesthetics in paintings and photos. It also determines how we live. Without light, we are in darkness -- we are blind, we are constrained.

While we all have access to sunlight, moonlight, and starlight, all other light has largely been accessible only to those who have electricity. But 1.2 billion people on this planet are living without electricity. That means that when the sun goes down, they can’t work, they can’t study, they can’t function. And that has a tremendous impact on their ability to live productive, sustainable lives.

Without electricity, there is no clean source of light, only darkness or expensive and dangerous alternatives, like homemade kerosene lamps which are not only a poor source of light , but they emit toxic black smoke. They also consume up to 15% of a family’s income.

Without light, children can’t study at night. Men and women can’t work after sundown.

If we could solve the problem of providing light to communities in need, we could help them to rise up to support themselves. It’s exciting to see the innovation that is breaking through to offer new solutions. There are fascinating developments using solar energy and… wait for it… gravity! Both of which are free!

SolarAid, an international charity works to combat poverty and climate change by providing people in need in Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia with access to solar lights. This light is life changing. They support product and market development for alternative lights that do not require electricity or fossil fuel.

New lights, based on solar technology and simple gravity make all the difference in the world. Just one lamp can transform the fortunes of an entire family. The very poorest among us can begin to develop and prosper without reliance on an archaic infrastructure that will never serve them. This video sheds some light.

GRAVITYLIGHT

Designers Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves wanted to look beyond solar and battery power. Their quest resulted in GravityLight.

This light is dependent on gravity alone, unlike solar-powered devices which need sunlight. GravityLight is a low cost, safe and reliable alternative to the kerosene lamp. It costs nothing to run, doesn’t need batteries and pays for itself within weeks of switching from kerosene,

GravityLight is an innovative device that generates power using the force of gravity from a weight. Made up of three parts, the light is hung above the ground giving the weight component a 6ft drop. To power the light the weight is lifted, and on release starts to fall slowly back down towards the ground. This movement powers a series of gears which rotate very slowly with high torque (force). The gear train running through the product turns this input into a high speed, low torque output that drives a power generator at thousands of rotations per minute.

With the 0.1W of power it generates, GravityLight provides a light superior to kerosene lamps and can also power other devices, such as a radio.

This output is used to power an LED light, and ancillary devices, providing off-grid communities with access to energy.

With the help of a few crowdfunding rounds, tooling, manufacture and distribution of GravityLight lamps to off-grid families in Africa and Asia happened. It was tested in homes across 26 countries. Over 90% of people said they would use a GravityLight instead of a kerosene lamp.

GravityLight has recently worked with Shell's #MakeTheFuture campaign, to introduce GravityLight to 50 communities in Kenya. The DOEN Foundation and Comic Relief.

At the conclusion of the Kenya pilot, the goal is to scale up GravityLight internationally to reach the 1.2 billion people living without electricity.

Watch how easily and beautifully GravityLight works in this video.

The advantage of an LED light source over a kerosene lamp is that nearly all this light output can be directed at a task or onto a surface. This idea of ‘useful light’ requires a

If you would like to purchase a GravityLight please visit Deciwatt. A percentage from each sale of GravityLight sold through Deciwatt goes towards supporting the work of GravityLight Foundation.

SolarAid has pioneered a truly sustainable model for bringing light to life for people living in darkness. They created a social enterprise, SunnyMoney, which has established a marketplace, selling and distributing lights locally, fuelling local economies, and lifting communities up out of darkness and despair.

SolarAid’s unique community distribution model uses teachers to raise trust and build awareness of solar. Each light shining in the night attracts neighbours and as word spreads the demand for solar lights grows. They aim to leave a lasting legacy.

This model is working in practice today. It is ensuring millions of people can access clean light for the first time. But it needs your support. Can you help spread some light today? Donate here.

Universal access to renewable energy is a key to alleviating poverty. A donation to SolarAid is one of the best value gifts on the planet. Check out our impact calculator to see just how far your donation will stretch. Visit the Charity Commissions page for more information.

Read more about Amazing Light in Two Places with the Most Amazing Light and This Light Makes Us Look More Beautiful.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Evans E. “Sunlight.”
2. Image: Mother watches her child study with the aid of the Sun King Mobile solar light. Courtesy of SolarAid.
3. Image: Man reads with the aid of the Sun King Mobile solar light. Courtesy of SolarAid.
4. Image: Children hold their Sun King Mobile solar lights. Courtesy of SolarAid.
5. Image: Mom and son read at night aided by the GravityLight. Courtesy of GravityLight Foundation.
6. Image: The GravityLight. Courtesy of GravityLight Foundation.
7. Image: Young boy reads at night with help from a GravityLight. Courtesy of GravityLight Foundation.
8. Image: Family poses at night with GravityLight. Courtesy of GravityLight Foundation.
9. Image: Woman poses with GravityLight lamps. Courtesy of GravityLight Foundation.
10. Image: Sunny Money Solar Lights. Courtesy of Sunny Money.
11. Image: Joe Nyeru talks to parents at Masimba School about Sunny Money solar lights. Courtesy of Sunny Money.
12. Image: Children sit around their Sun King Mobile solar light. Courtesy of SolarAid.
13. Image: Mother watches her children study with the aid of the Sun King Mobile solar light. Courtesy of SolarAid.
14. Image: Woman uses the GravityLight to brighten up her home. Courtesy of GravityLight Foundation.
15. Image: Child studies with the aid of the Sun King Mobile solar light. Courtesy of SolarAid.
16. Image: Mom and her daughter hold their Sun King Mobile solar lights. Courtesy of SolarAid.