What a bright idea! Brazilian mechanic uses plastic water bottles and bleach to create LIGHT - illuminating 1million homes

  • Alfredo Moser uses plastic bottle filled with water, bleach and the principle of refraction to light up dark rooms during the day
  • His invention will be fitted in over one million homes by the end of the year and  he is credited with transforming people's lives in poorer countries
  • The mechanic came up with the idea for his 'Moser light' during one of the frequent blackouts in his home city of Uberaba, southern Brazil in 2002

By Sarah Griffiths

PUBLISHED: 12:20 EST, 14 August 2013 | UPDATED: 03:08 EST, 15 August 2013

A Brazilian mechanic has invented a way of lighting his house during the day without relying on electricity.

Alfredo Moser has been using plastic bottles filled up with water and a splash of bleach to illuminate dark rooms since 2002 and now the idea has now spread across the world.

It is predicted that his lighting system, which works using refraction of sunlight, will be fitted in over a million homes by the end of this year.

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Alfredo Moser (pictured) has been using plastic bottles filled up with water and a splash of bleach to illuminate dark rooms since 2002

Alfredo Moser (pictured) has been using plastic bottles filled up with water and a splash of bleach to illuminate dark rooms since 2002

It is predicted that his lighting system, which works using refraction of sunlight, will be in over a million homes by the end of this year
It is predicted that his lighting system, which works using refraction of sunlight, will be in over a million homes by the end of this year

It is predicted that his lighting system, which works using refraction of sunlight, will be fitted in over a million homes by the end of this year

The secret of the liquid which fills normal plastic drinks bottles that are often thrown away, is two capfuls of bleach added to water, which stops it turning green with algae when exposed to sunlight.

Mr Moser drills a hole in a roof tile and then pushes the filled bottle in from below, keeping the bottle in place with polyester resin, which waterproofs the 'window' in his roof.

 

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He told Outlook on the BBC World Service that depending on the strength of sunlight, the light filling his home is the equivalent of between 40 and 60 watts.

The secret of the liquid filling normal plastic drinks bottles that are often thrown away, is two capfuls of bleach

The secret of the liquid filling normal plastic drinks bottles that are often thrown away, is two capfuls of bleach added to the water to stop it turning green with algae as it is exposed to sunlight

Mr Moser drills a hole in a roof tile and then pushes the filled bottle in from below, keeping them in place with polyester resin, which waterproofs the 'window' in his roof
Mr Moser drills a hole in a roof tile

Mr Moser drills a hole in a roof tile and then pushes the filled bottle in from below, keeping them in place with polyester resin, which waterproofs the 'window' in his roof

The mechanic came up with the idea for his 'Moser light' during one of the frequent blackouts in Brazil in 2002.

He said only factories had power in his home city of Uberaba, in southern Brazil during the energy shortage.

 

It was his boss that suggested using a plastic bottle filled with water as a lens to focus the sun's rays on dry grass to light fires in case of an emergency and Mr Moser developed the concept into his light.

It was his boss that suggested using a plastic bottle filled with water

It was his boss that suggested using a plastic bottle filled with water as a lens to focus the sun's rays on dry grass to light fires in case of an emergency and Mr Moser developed the concept into his light

depending on the strength of sunlight, the light created in his home is the equivalent to between 40 and 60 watts

Depending on the strength of sunlight, the light created in his home is the equivalent to between 40 and 60 watts

He told BBC World Service: 'It's a divine light. God gave the sun to everyone, and light is for everyone. Whoever wants it saves money. You can't get an electric shock from it, and it doesn't cost a penny.'

Mr Moser earned a few dollars installing the lights in his local super market and neighbours' houses but his invention has not made him a wealthy man.

He said: 'There was one man who installed the lights and within a month he had saved enough to pay for the essential things for his child, who was about to be born. Can you imagine?'

Mr Moser (pictured) earned a few dollars installing the lights in his local super market

Mr Moser (pictured) earned a few dollars installing the lights in his local super market and neighbours' houses but his invention has not made him a wealthy man

A charity now also incorporates water bottles in roofs (pictured)

A charity now also incorporates water bottles in roofs (pictured) since learning of the Moser method and also trains local people to do the same in order to earn a small living

Carmelinda his wife said her husband has always been handy at home and have made tables and chairs.

Illac Angelo Diaz, executive director of the MyShelter Foundation in the Philippines also admires Mr Moser's ingenuity.

The charity uses recycled materials to build houses and has plenty of bottle donations, which it fills with mud to build walls and water to create windows.

The bottles make for a distinctive lighting solution in many homes across the world

The bottles make for a distinctive lighting solution in many homes across the world

Moser lamps (pictured) have reportedly been fitted in over 140,000 homes

Moser lamps (pictured) have reportedly been fitted in over 140,000 homes in the Philippines where a quarter of the population live in poverty as well as in 15 other countries, including Argentina, India and Fiji

It now incorporates water bottles in roofs since learning of the Moser method and also trains local people to do the same in order to earn a small living.

Moser lamps have reportedly been fitted in over 140,000 homes in the Philippines where a quarter of the population live in poverty, as well as in 15 other countries, including Argentina, India and Fiji.

Mr Diaz believes over one million people have installed Moser lights in 2013 and credits the mechanic with transforming people's lives.

'Whether or not he gets the Nobel Prize, we want him to know that there are a great number of people who admire what he is doing,' he said.

Mr Moser told the BBC he never imagined his invention would have such an impact but said it gives him goose bumps if he thinks how many people are using Moser lights.

over one million people have installed Moser lights
over one million people have installed Moser lights

The director of MyShelter foundation believes over one million people have installed Moser lights in 2013 and credits Mr Moser (pictured) with transforming people's lives

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Umm correct me IF I am wrong but doesn't anyone remember those Lamps in the 70's that used Plastic fibers to transfer light. Oh yeah and they started using it for high speed internet now also

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They just illuminate the poverty and make it more unbearable...

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boy he better win the noble peace medal......what a bright idea

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surely this only works in the daylight though

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This is so old! We used to do this in our tree house over 10 years ago. Just another freeloader...

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Not much use at night without sunlight!

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how long will the water / bleach last in a bottle ..Don't want to be the one crawling across the roof with a bucket and funnel to refill the light bottle..

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What happens at night

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Seen this being used elsewhere more than 2 years ago .....a great idea but DM slow to report it me thinks!!

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Another .. 'sunny' tabloid reported this 6 months ago.....

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