GravityLight: the gravity-powered lamp aiming to light the developing world for less

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Deciwatt, the group behind the light, says the invention will "provide affordable, sustainable and reliable light, anytime, that enables people to break free from the economic, health and environmental hazards of kerosene lamps.” This mission began when Deciwatt, founded by inventors Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves, was challenged by the charity SolarAid to design a new LED lantern for Africa as an alternative to the “ubiquitous and damaging” kerosene lamp. open image in gallery The entire GravityLight apparatus, with the main light module on top, and the bag for the weight beneath. And although the initial price of the light was set at around $10, after three months of use, the GravityLight will have recouped the equivalent cost of running a kerosene lamp for the same period. Deciwatt also claim that the GravityLight has a superior light the majority of kerosene lamps used by those without electricity and is “more sustainable, safe and healthy.” After a risk of the project being derailed before it had really even begun due to lack of funding, Deciwatt took their campaign to the crowdfunding site Indiegogo.