In September 2012, the Japanese company Green House launched in the market the first saltwater-powered light source, GH-LED10WBW. This was followed in 2015 by the release of SALt Lamp designed by Aisa and Raphael Mijeno and in April 2016 by Waterlight, produced by start-up E-Dina. These three products have in common the type of energy source used, salt water, but they’re all composed of different elements. These lamps don’t use electricity, batteries or solar energy.
The first is an emergency lamp made up of a magnesium rod, a carbon rod and ten LEDs. It makes use of the electric flux generated by the element of salt water, which it’s replaced every eight hours, which corresponds to the duration of the lighting. Green House, GH-LED10WBW, 2012.
The second comes after engineer Mijeno’s experience with the Butbut tribe in the Philippines. The aim is to create a method of generating light that is an alternative to paraffin lamps, and which it’s therefore more sustainable and safer and suited to the needs of rural Philippines. It’s now recognised as an alternative lighting method for all communities living in energy-poor situations.
The third is inspired by indigenous practices on the borders of Venezuela and Colombia. It consists of a wooden cylinder and a magnesium plate that use the principle of ionisation to generate light and electricity, produced when the electrolytes in the salt water react with the magnesium. The lamp can be recharged directly from the sea, it’s able to provide 45 days of light with half a litre of salt water, it has an average life of about 5,600 hours, two to three years depending on use. In emergency situations, the device can also be powered by urine.
These lamps represent a sustainable design model in their context: they’re an important resource for developing countries and indigenous people who don’t have access to electricity. The user becomes an active part of the lighting process necessary to satisfy daily needs, interacting with a natural resource: water.
‣ GREEN HOUSE CO – GH-LED10WBW
‣ Generating innovations from the most unlikely places | Aisa Mijeno | TEDxRuhrUniversityBochum
‣ Waterlight
Furthermore
This dossier refers to the topics covered by the eighth virtuous design practice “Dynamic energy with proper concentration” and it wants to reflect on leaving the onus and the honour on the user to continue with the design. The dynamic and circular design doesn’t only mean using recycled raw materials, but treating each project as an individual entity to give it its own dignity.
Articles covering the same topics:
‣ Zeuss Project
‣ WaterLight is a portable lantern that can be charged with salt water or urine
‣ Sustainable Alternative Lighting (Philippines)