Light for the poor

[BobSch]

AN inventive chap in the Philippines came up with a cheap way to produce electricity-free light for indoor use.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14967535

[RodKirby]

Fantastic! I wonder how the h*** he came up with such a perfect solution.

[twistsol]

One of those ideas that's so simple, but I'd never have thought of it in a million years.

[Tom Slick]

Great idea! The only problem I see if the roof will now leak in that spot.

[chopnhack]

That's awesome. I believe the Philippines to be a rather wet location, and yes they may leak, but I am pretty sure the folks that can't afford to turn the light on, probably aren't too picky about that point. That wouldn't fly in the states for various reasons, but its akin to the solar tubes we have here. Kudos to that gentleman!

[LinuxRandal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crjU5hu2fag

Another idea.

[cabinetman]

That's a 'bright' idea. Windows and skylights will let in light. Take a bunch of the bottles and use adhesive and make a square or rectangular panel out of them and use it as a skylight panel.

.

[os1kne]

Brilliant idea! I love a simple and effective solution to a problem.

It seams that a bit of caulk, tar, etc. would be able to make the hole in the roof and the seal around the bottle fairly weather-tight for a good while.

[BigguyZ]

That is brilliant! Human ingenuity, and a good way to use the waste reated by plastic bottles.

It looks like some have indeed used caulk to make sure the addition is water proof too.

[jackellis]

It appears to be a dirt cheap light pipe. Very ingenious.

[cabinetman]

It appears to be a dirt cheap light pipe. Very ingenious.

I did some work in a house that had a cathedral ceiling. The contractor installed a skylight with a short chute with the interior clad with reflector chrome. It was incredible how much light it passed to the inside.

.

[billfrommich]

Apparently, something like this was done in wooden sailing ships to light areas below the deck. I vaguely remember seeing for sale in some catalog a reproduction of a jewel/prism shaped block of glass used for that purpose. Of course, plastic bottles are much cheaper, readily available, and perhaps even more effective.