Ministers Of Light

In 2007, the United States Congress passed a law (The Clean Energy Act) requiring a gradual phasing out of the traditional incandescent light bulb. In accordance with the law, many bulbs have already been discontinued, and by the end of 2014, most of the low-tech bulbs will be a thing of the past. While the change has met with some modest criticism, this enlightened approach to equipping homes with new-technology lighting will save consumers billions of dollars each year.

It may be surprising to learn that there is another, much lower cost lighting solution called a “solar bottle bulb.” Widely used in the Philippines where electricity is often rationed and too costly for many residents, these homemade bulbs are built from little more than plastic bottles, water and bleach. Using the power of the sun alone, these power-free alternatives generate a daytime light equivalent of a 60 watt bulb!

No matter what the source, it is a natural human response to be attracted to…