Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Hong Kong Company Develops Solar-Powered Lightbulb

Posted by timothy on from the works-best-at-night dept.

hussain_mkj writes "A Hong Kong-based company, Nokero, has introduced what it claims is the world's first solar powered lightbulb. Nokero is trying to replace traditional kerosene lamps in developing countries with its solar-powered N100 LED lightbulbs. The bulb is about the same size as normal incandescent bulbs, and will shine for two hours when charged for a day. The company claims that the new bulb is five times as bright as a kerosene lamp and uses 1/200th the energy. It will cost $15 for one and $480 for 48."

9 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Cool by pieisgood · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You can get the 48 light deal and setup a grid of lights to provide night time lighting for six hours and you won't have to pay the electricity bill.

    But will anyone in the developing countries know or care about this?

    --
    Eat sleep die
    1. Re:Cool by skine · · Score: 4, Interesting

      My great uncle drove down to Brazil about thirty years back, and most central American rural natives would drive without headlights at night. They felt that it actually improved their ability to see.

    2. Re:Cool by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Developing countries are way ahead of the "green" curve because:
      1) Electricity is expensive
      2) Electricity isn't that reliable.

      On my recent trip to India I was quite surprised, especially out in Sikkim. Even though the area is very 'poor' (by American standards) almost everyone had florescent lights. We stayed on Yangsum Farm. The guy had a solar array. WWII sub batteries for backup. He was in process of building an entire passive 'off the grid' building.

      Every single hotel room I stayed in had a slot for the key. You walked in, put the key in the slot and the power came on to the room. If you took the key, you lost power. It was annoying trying to charge stuff, but how many times to people leave their rooms in the USA and leave a TV on, some lights, etc?

      So yes, developing countries know about this and they'll most likely make use of it long before anyone in the USA even cares.

  2. Not a first, I think... by blankinthefill · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well, considering that these: http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-garden-lights.html, have been around for many years, I think 'first' is a bit of a stretch. They may have made them CHEAPER, and longer lasting, or more useful, but certainly not FIRST.

  3. What they're really afraid of. by The+Altruist · · Score: 5, Funny

    But they are afraid of Chuck Norris. So is the dark.

  4. Re:Solar Panels on the top of the bulb by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously how many light bulbs to you have where there is sunlight hittinng the top of the bulb regularly?

    I found some information on a phenomenon that will ... illuminate you.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  5. Bogolights are also good ... by jrifkin · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have owned a couple of Boglights for a few years now and they've been solidly reliable. They can last up to 6 hours on a days charge, they work as both a flashlight and an area light, they give 6 levels of light, and are designed for developing countries. However, they cost twice as much, $30 a light. This page has a lot of technical information about them, http://www.bogolight.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BOGO-BUYONESN2&Show=TechSpecs

  6. Re:Unfortunately... by camperdave · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This isn't meant for third world applications, despite the company propaganda. It is meant for North Americans, for patio lanterns and camping and such. There's no reason that a third world solar powered bulb would be shaped like a North American bulb, complete with screw threads moulded into the plastic on the top. It's meant to be cute. Third world doesn't buy cute, they buy functional. North America buys cute.

    From Nokero's website:

    Coleman lanterns are popular, but the Nokero is like a solar Coleman lantern powered by sunlight rather than gas lantern technology, so it can also be used for recreational purposes. It can provide emergency light during or after natural disasters, it can be an outdoor recreation and camping lantern, or it can be used in and around outdoor patios.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  7. Replacement term for 3rd world by xzvf · · Score: 4, Informative

    Diplomats adjust terms to keep from offending nations where people have little income and limited freedom. During the cold war there was the 1st world (NATO, neutral western Europe, Japan), 2nd world (Warsaw Pact), and 3rd world (everyone else). Late in the cold war, 3rd world was replaced by developing nations to counter the Soviet goal of creating Communist revolutions, and indicate the new US policy economic development (replacing the anti-Communist strongman policy). After the cold war saw the creating of the emerging economies (BRIC {Brazil, Russia [after deflating the CIA myth of a Soviet economy as large as the US], India, and China}, Asian tigers {primarily South Korea and Singapore} and former purgatory countries {South Africa [Aparthid] and Israel [peace treaty with Egypt]. The former 1st world is now called developed. So now we have Developed, Emerging and Developing. Of course people closer to the academic world will know the newest buzzwords.