GravityLight, the LED lamp that runs on gravity, is an altruistic endeavor worthy of an Inspiration Award

To wage their war on kerosene lamps and the perils the substance presents, partners Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves have developed the GravityLight, an LED lamp that runs on gravity ― no electricity necessary. We covered the device back January of 2013, when it made internet headlines with its debut, and felt that the gadget represented one of the most innovative designs of that year. For this, we award Martin and Jim a 2013 Inspiration Award.

GravityLight operates by hanging a bag filled with dirt, rocks, or water to a cable attached to a gear on the device. The gravity pulling on this cable creates enough downward force to power an LED bulb for up to half-hour. This is considerably helpful in eradicating the reliance on kerosene lamps in third world countries; lamps with a high propensity to cause fire when toppled are equally fatal to simply be around. Inhaling burning kerosene is toxic to the lungs, akin to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. and if you thought things couldn’t get any worse, burning kerosene is contributes 244 million tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere!

Martin and Tim want to provide an affordable lighting alternative that is safer and healthier. Moreover, GravityLight’s portability enables the destitute people living without electricity access to light. A figure, according to inventors, ranges in the 1.5 billion mark.

For additional GravityLight information, click here