Low-cost lighting solutions for underprivileged households in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Club Enerji, Tata Power's nationwide energy conservation movement, on Saturday embarked on a special energy saving and conservation programme. The mini club of Queen Mary School, Grant Road, in collaboration with Project Jal Jyoti, undertook a special drive to install innovative low-cost lighting solutions for urban slum dwellings in Mumbai.

The main objective of this initiative is to create awareness amongst slum dwellers about the importance of conserving energy, officials said. Over 70 students participated in this awareness drive in order to reduce their dependency on electricity and provide relief from constant power cuts to underprivileged households.

The Class X students participated in a collection drive and recycled bottles gathered from the drive to create fixtures. "The 1.25-litre bottles were filled with water and a capful of bleach was mixed in the same. The students inserted these through the slum roof and positioned the top half above the roof and the bottom half, below. During the day, refraction of light through the water converts the bottom half of the bottle into a 60 watt light bulb, creating a 'bottled light'. This simple technology provides effective lighting during the day without the use of electricity, thus reducing dependency as well as costs," an official stated.

Tata Power managing director Anil Sardana said, "It is a Tata Power philosophy to ensure alternative and innovative power provision to all. Club Enerji has successfully filtered this philosophy and we are extremely proud that our young torch bearers are thinking of new dimensions to light up lives of those who face power shortage. We hope this collaboration and initiative continues to aid many more families."