A project called ‘Liter of Light‘ is hoping to bring light to places that need it most, by using DIY lamps made from plastic bottles. Mashable caught up with the founder of the project to hear how it works and find out who can benefit.  

One of the immediate impacts of a natural disaster, like the hurricane that recently wreaked havoc in Haiti, is that it’s often followed by darkness. It takes months for aid, and in this case light, to reach the most remote places.  

On a daily basis, more than 1.5 billion people face similar darkness, or at best the dim glow of candlelights or kerosene lamps, whose fumes are poisonous. 

Some of these communities are extremely remote and have no access to electricity. Others have access to electricity, but opt out of using it because it’s so expensive. 

The problem goes far beyond the lack of light. It extends to long-term issues about security, independence, health and access to education.

An open source project called ‘Liter of Light‘ is trying to change this by using plastic bottles to make simple solar-powered lights. 

Image: Liter of light

How it works 

Plastic bottles are filled with water and bleach, which eliminates algae from turning the water green. The bottles are then installed into roofs of houses and begin working as a mirror on the roof,…

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