Father-Son Duo Unveils Game-Changing Tech with Just Two Everyday Items: A True ‘Light Bulb Moment’

A clever plastic bottle filled with water and bleach can light up homes during the day. This idea, introduced by Illac Diaz and his group Liter of Light, transformed lives across the globe, as highlighted by Climate Heroes.

So far, this project has provided affordable lighting to around 382,000 people in the Philippines and 690,000 worldwide. It utilizes recycled materials and solar energy, skipping the need for traditional power sources.

Illac Diaz grew up in a wealthy Italian family in the Philippines. After delving into advertising and earning his master’s degree, he shifted his focus to social entrepreneurship. His first venture, Pier One, began by offering low-cost housing for sailors. It expanded from 40 beds to over 1,500!

In 2006, he launched the Myshelter Foundation, which now operates Liter of Light. This initiative combines daytime bottle lights with LED systems powered by solar panels and recycled batteries. During the day, a single bottle plugged into a roof emits light similar to a 55-watt bulb by bending sunlight through the water.

“It was literally a light bulb moment,” Diaz reflected on his decision to start this organization.

In places like Rizal, north of Manila, these bottle lights provide two extra hours of activity after dark. One resident turned her light into a small business, charging friends to use her pool table. Another opened a shop, serving the community around the clock while men work in nearby hills during the week, and women take care of homes and kids.

But this project offers more than light; it builds entrepreneurs. Groups of five women receive training and materials to create and market lamps. They manage everything, from inventory to installations and loans.

A complete solar street lamp costs about $75, and household setups are around $60. Replacement parts are budget-friendly: LED bulbs have a lifespan of two years and cost $1-$2, while batteries last four years and are around $13.

The changes impact whole communities. Recently, Liter of Light installed 100 household lamps and 50 streetlights in Rizal alone. The organization collaborates with private donors, businesses, and public institutions to fund these initiatives or assist communities with financing through micro-credit programs.