LED hourglass lamp uses kinetic energy of falling sand as beautiful off-grid lighting solution

Brooklyn-based designer Danielle Trofe has found a more practical use for one of the more time-tested pieces of measuring equipment—the hourglass. 

Using the kinetic energy of the falling sand as a source of power, he is able to illuminate small, local areas with an LED lamp. It’s not only a terrific off-grid solution to provide lighting just about anywhere, it’s also a smart way to reduce the amount of energy being consumed by lamps. 

There are two designs available under Trofe’s hourglass LED line—one is a table lamp and the other is a floor lamp. The only thing that is required by its user is the actual physical flipping over the hourglass. To that end, the floor lamp is suspended on a hinge to make the actual act of flipping over the four-foot-tall lamp relatively easy. 

The table lamp is somewhat similar in its hinge approach, though it features a different design.

The lamps are made using sustainable wood and sand created from recycled glass, which were conscious decisions meant to drive the whole eco-friendly approach home. 

One of the unspoken benefits of this lamp is that should you leave the room with it still on, eventually it’ll turn itself off. So you’re never at risk of wasting electricity. 

Story via psfk