In 2002, Alfredo Moser had a light-bulb moment. The neighborhood where he lived in southern Brazil suffered from constant blackouts, so after experimenting with plastic bottles and using refracted light from the sun, he figured out a way to light up his home without electricity. Since then, the idea of the “bottle light” not only caught on with his neighbors, but has swept poverty-stricken areas around the world. A Philippines-based non-profit called MyShelter even teaches locals how to make and install the water-bottle light bulbs, allowing them to earn an income. According to some estimates, the light is being used in more than a million homes across 15 countries. Moser, who teaches others how to install the simple technology, says that getting rich from the idea was never the goal for him. “It’s a divine light. God gave the sun to everyone, and light is for everyone. Whoever wants it saves money. You can’t get an electric shock from it, and it doesn’t cost a penny” …
