I heard about this on NPR last night and I think it's a great idea; Mark Bent has invented a solar-powered flashlight, and when you buy one someone in an impoverished area that lacks electricity for lights at night also will receive one (and you get to pick where your contribution goes). From what I heard last night the battery in the bogo lights last for about two years (considering you use it every night), so it's definitely a worthwhile investment rather than continuing to buy battery-eating flashlights. From what I've read it seems that solar-powered flashlights aren't the end of the innovations either; the company behind the product also wants to develop various water-purification and illumination technologies based on solar power to help developing communities be self-sustaining in terms of energy consumption. I'm going to get one; you should, too.
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Laelaps is the blog of Brian Switek, a freelance science writer based in New Jersey. This blog frequently features his musings on paleontology, evolution, and the history of science. Switek also blogs for Smithsonian magazine's Dinosaur Tracking.
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Do someone else a favor; get a Bogo light
Category: Ecology
Posted on: January 16, 2008 3:16 PM, by Brian Switek
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Comments
Sweet, I am so buying one for Kenya this summer. Thanks, Brian!
Posted by: Melanie | January 16, 2008 5:30 PM
These are really good lights; I got one for my dad and one for myself a year ago. He uses his all the time; I keep mine on the window sill in my bedroom for emergencies.
Posted by: OriGuy | January 16, 2008 7:02 PM
I'm not convinced by solar-powered flashlights. I saw some in a local shop and I think they're ridiculous. Here's why.
When will a flashlight (or any) battery run out of power? When you need it (especially if you are using it of course!).
When do you need a flashlight? When it's dark.
When is solar power not available? When it's dark.
Rather better is to invest in wind-up flashlights (which I have seen at low prices), so that when it runs out of power, you wind the handle for half a minute and you have a new dose of light. As environmentally friendly as the solar version and equally needless of replacement batteries, but can be recharged in use when you most need them.
Wind up and save the planet!
Posted by: Sam the Centipede | January 17, 2008 5:35 AM
I thought this sounded like a good cause, until I saw you could donate to the US Military!! The US Military, impoverished?!?
Posted by: Matt | January 18, 2008 4:00 AM