World Habitat Awards, Liter of Light.

One of the finalists in the 2014 World Habitat Awards is “Liter of Light”, the affordable and sustainable initiative to provide lighting to homes in poor community, improving the quality of life in the rapidly increasing numbers of informal settlements. 



Light as the source of life and driver of development, theme of the International Year of Light 2015 has also been recognised by the World Habitat Awards established in 1985 by the Building and Social Housing Foundation and promoting good design practice for housing over its 30 years.





Liter of Light uses readily available materials like recycled 1.5 or 2-litre plastic bottles that are filled with distilled water and a bit of bleach to prevent mould. The bottle is resealed and the “solar bottle daylight bulb” can be hung to produce 55 watts of brightness through sun refraction, lasting up to five years. 



There is also the upgraded nightlight system, with LED bulbs, micro-solar panels and a battery that can be easily produced and assembled by local communities.



Liter of Light or Isang Litrong Liwanag, as the project is called in the Philippines, supported by the Myshelter Foundation, uplifts the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of families in the Philippines that have no access to electricity and use dangerous kerosene lamps indoors, but the best thing is that it is so easy to replicate.



And Liter of Light is more than just affordable lighting with zero impact on the environment, it also enables something most of us just take for granted – it allows children to do homework and study at home in the densely constructed informal settlements where so many of the dwellings lack windows and light.
You too can use the tutorials to learn how to make your own Liter of Light!

(Christiane Bürklein)

Myshelter Foundation - Liter of Light, http://aliteroflight.org/ 
Finalist, World Habitat Awards 2014-15
Images: Courtesy of World Habitat Awards