Gaialux Light

Gaialux is the name of our entry in the NASA Create The Future contest. The light is designed for use in “squatter cities”

The following text is from our competition entry:

The Problem:

Most of us take easy access to energy and electric light for granted, but billions of people in less economically developed countries have intermittent power or no power at all and often resort to illuminating their homes with kerosene lamps. Our “Gaialux” light design addresses these problems and also serves as a very efficient task light for college students, architects and designers. Gaialux is an efficient lighting technology for the entire world.

The Invention:

Our invention is a novel Light Emitting Diode (LED) light powered by a recycled cell phone charger. Our light has the option of incorporating batteries that charge when power is available and work when light is needed, thus providing light when other people are left in the dark.

LEDs are very efficient so our light will run for days on battery power alone. When power is available the cell phone charger automatically charges the batteries, when the batteries are fully charged it shuts off – with no standby power loss! (We have measured this)

Currently, LED task lights are extremely energy efficient, but expensive. Our light reduces cost by recycling cell phone chargers for the fixture’s power source. This beneficial re-use of some of the 125 million cell phone chargers that are thrown away each year (in the US alone) keeps electronic waste out of the landfill while saving energy.

Marketability:

Cell phone service providers will want to provide branded energy efficient task lights designed to match their aesthetic palette and powered by their chargers. This reinforces brand loyalty while promoting energy efficiency and a “green” image.

In less economically developed countries where power is intermittent people will want the lights to provide illumination when electricity is not available. In these areas people spend on average $75.00 per year on kerosene to illuminate their homes. Our lights will cost less and provide better quality light. The ceiling light fixture and the table lamp (see illustrations) will eliminate the need for kerosene, thus avoiding pollution, reducing CO2 emissions, eliminating a common cause of fire and reducing respiratory problems. Replacing kerosene lamps with energy efficient LED lamps may qualify for carbon offset credits.

Manufacturing:

We have 3 separate light fixtures that use our Gaialux design. One is a task light for use in developed countries. This can be manufactured as a standard task light with a special location for a cell phone charger designed into the base. Optional batteries will also be located in the base.

The second fixture, a ceiling mounted light, is for less economically developed countries. It incorporates a cell phone charger and batteries under a pedestal that holds a ceiling diffuser. This light is to be wired into the house’s electrical infrastructure. It will be charged when power is available and provide light when light is needed.

The third fixture is also for less economically developed countries. It is a simple table lamp that provides general illumination. The prototype model (see illustration) is made from bamboo sticks and a recycled white plastic bag.