Alfredo Moser Plastic Bottle Lamps To Provide Poor In Brazil With Light [VIDEO]

Back in 2002, Brazilian mechanic Alfredo Moser found a way to illuminate his home during the day without electricity using three simple and cheap ingredients: water, plastic bottles and a small amount of bleach.

Moser manages to accomplish this by refracting sunlight in an empty two-liter plastic battle. His successful creation has spread around the world and is expected to light one million homes by early next year.

"Add two capfuls of bleach to protect the water so it doesn't turn green [with algae]. The cleaner the bottle, the better," he explains, adding that he makes a hole in the roof tile with a drill from the bottom upwards so he can push the bottle into the hole. "You fix the bottle in with polyester resin. Even when it rains, the roof never leaks - not one drop."

The plastic bottle--which has been dubbed the "Moser lamp"--can generate anywhere from 40 to 60 watts depending on how strong the sun is. Moser was inspired to create this device in 2002, when Brazil was facing a record number of blackouts. "The only places that had energy were the factories - not people's houses," said Moser about his city, Uberaba, in southern Brazil.

Initially, Moser and his friends were trying to create something to raise alarm during an emergency or crisis. His boss suggested using water and a bottle to refract light and start a fire as a warning signal to rescuers. Inspired, Moser began experimenting with bottles and ended up creating a lamp.

"I didn't make any design drawings," he says. "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."

Moser has begun installing the bottles in his neighbor's homes and the local supermarket. And while he makes a little money in the installation process, he has not been maximizing the financial profit potential of this idea. Moser tells BBC that helping his people is enough and gives him pride.

"There was one man who installed the lights and within a month he had saved enough to pay for the essential things for his child, who was about to be born. Can you imagine?" he says.