Training at Isang Litrong Liwanag: How To Make a Solar Bottle Light Bulb

Last Saturday was one happy full packed day for me, I was on the road by 7:30AM for the volunteer training on how to make Solar Bottle Light which was held over at the NCR Command Office at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

It has been a couple of years since I volunteered for anything worthwhile. Admittedly, there are only a handful of organizations that can actually implement their cause. This was one that I can certainly give my hands and time on – since Isang Litrong Liwanag is actively implemented and becoming recognized WORLDWIDE.

And we buy liter cases of soft drinks every week, averaging about 2-3 Liter bottles a day. I DON’T DRINK ALL OF IT, AND NEITHER DOES SKY…OKAY?

Kristel and Brenda made me feel at ease when I got there. Some volunteers from Makati Rotarians and Rotaracts (please correct me if I’m wrong!) were also there to learn how to make solar bottle lights – which they will hopefully implement in their respective areas of responsibility.

After a brief introduction of the project, Miss Nicki and Kistel gave us an overview on what we’ll do that morning before we put our hands into good use.

- Jonel (Officer from Makati City Jail) makinig ka sabi eh! -

We were half-way through with creating our very own Liter Solar Light Bottles, when Mr. Illac Diaz came in. And he immediately pointed out what our mistakes were. If he was my professor in college, I would most likely have dropped his subject! He seemed to be strict and meticulous – which is actually a major advantage if you want anything done in an NGO here in The Philippines.

So, here’s a video that shows the step-by-step process on how to make these SOLAR BOTTLE LIGHT BULB:

ADDITIONAL TIPS TO TAKE HEED WHEN MAKING A SOLAR LIGHT BULB:

1. Use a Roof sheet with a gauge of 24, which is thick enough to hold the bottle even if its filled with water.

2. Do not go crazy with the sealant/ epoxy, otherwise light won’t shine in the house! You see our sample up there? THAT’S NOT RIGHT! Half of that is good enough, just enough to secure the “teeth” of the roof to the bottle is just right.

3. Place the roofing sheet, lower than our sample up there. About 1/3 of the top of the bottle should be well and clear to capture as much light as possible from the sun.

Isang Litro ng Liwanag is targeting to install 10,000 of these SOLAR BOTTLE LIGHTS on November 30, 2011. If you would like to make good use of plastic softdrink liter bottles for the next 1,000 years instead of clogging our pipes. Bring them over at the NCR Command Office at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. You can also join in and volunteer every Saturday morning to make these solar bottle lights which will be installed in one of the communities that day.

Please email Kristel Gonzales at aliteroflight.ph@gmail.com if you would like to sign-up and volunteer for the upcoming Saturdays leading up into November 30, 2011.