Grassroots solar lighting campaign set to illuminate the world
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Leading global supplier of technology Robert Bosch, Inc. and local green organization MyShelter Foundation continue to work towards a common vision to illuminate homes around the world through the Liter of Light initiative. Pioneered in the Philippines in 2011, the unique grassroots solar lighting campaign provides sustainable alternative lighting systems to residents of underprivileged communities in Metro Manila.
The project combines Bosch’s expertise in technology and MyShelter Foundation’s passion for bringing green solutions to the grassroots level, and utilizes simple technological innovation to bring light where it is greatly needed.
Made from recyclable plastic bottles, galvanized corrugated sheets and a solution of water, chlorine and salt, the solar bottle bulbs are able to refract sunlight and provide 55-watts worth of light to households. Through these lighting systems, communities are able to utilize a cost-efficient, long-term alternative to electric light and save up to Php 400 on monthly electric bills.
In July 2011, Bosch helped launch a three-day program aptly called Liter of Light, which was geared towards providing sustainable lighting technology to families in Payatas. A delegation of 50 Bosch associates, scholars and engineering students also contributed volunteer work to the project.
Joseph Hong, Managing Director, Robert Bosch, Inc. (Philippines) expressed his optimism in the progress of the joint project. “Last year, Bosch donated handheld power tools to support Liter of Light’s first large-scale activity. The tools were used for the proper installation of solar bulbs for some 1,000 homes in the Payatas community,” said Hong.
Having first seen light in the Philippines, Liter of Light has now become a bigger commitment for Bosch. What began with one bottle of light has grown to have brightened the lives of 70,000 people in Metro Manila alone.
“We are privileged to be part of a project that has the genuine potential to inspire change and action. Not only is Liter of Light an asset to the country, but it is also of great value to the world. We continue to urge other countries to do the same,” said Hong.
One such country that is taking charge of this noble aim abroad is Bosch India, which recently conducted three workshops leveraging on the preparation and installation of solar bottle bulbs in the slums of Hyderabad and Chennai. With the participation of about 250 students from various engineering colleges, Bosch was able to install more than 75 solar bulbs, all of which were built and installed by volunteers who received two-days due training from qualified engineers.
Bosch India is looking to conduct more workshops in the coming months to meet its target of installing 10,000 bulbs in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Chennai and other locations in India alone.
With the Philippines as its home base, Liter of Light, with the keen participation and continued support of the Bosch group, will continue its noble endeavor to have one million bottle lights installed globally by 2015.
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Tags: Bosch , Grassroots solar lighting , technology
