Nokero introduces world's first solar powered lightbulb

[wpsedgwick]

Source: Examiner

Nokero, a Hong Kong-based company, has debuted the world's first solar-powered LED lightbulb.

The durable, rainproof light bulb is about the size of a standard incandescent bulb and can be charged during the day to provide hours of clean, safe light at night. It’s also designed with a replaceable, rechargeable battery so it can be renewed to operate for several years.

The Nokero N100 solar LED light bulb is meant to replace kerosene lamps as a lighting source in the developing world.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-42287-Chicago-Green-Technology-Examiner~y2010m6d14-Nokero-introduces-worlds-first-solar-powered-lightbulb

[tridim]

1. Solar landscape lighting has been available since at least the 80's

:shrug:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. LEDs are far more efficient, last longer, but have

specific requirements as to power. Tweaking it to make it work, at a relatively low cost is news.

[tridim]

3. Yea, I know. I should also mention my neighbor has solar powered LED lights in her garden.

They've been there for several years.

Another :shrug:

[sasquuatch55]

15. Available for years with low lumens.

nt

[struggle4progress]

5. Affordable products were available in the mid-70s

I knew folk whose walkway was illuminated c.1975 by solar-powered lighting available from a standard national big-box store

[FLPanhandle]

4. I've had solar powered dock lights for years.

Replace the rechargable batteries once a year and they shine all night.

[Roland99]

6. Sweet! I can't wait to get my cordless lawn mower (solar rechargeable)

http://www.amazon.com/Solaris-S21HB-21-Inch-Cordless-Discharge/dp/B001PKTRU8/ref=reg_hu-wl_item-added

[davidinalameda]

9. that would be sweet

cut down on trips to the gas station

I always overfill the little gas can

[Roland99]

11. No gas, no oil, no noise, no emissions!

:)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. how about a solar powered person to mow it for me?

[Xithras]

7. Devices with rechargeable batteries should not be considered "green"

Especially when offered to the developing world.

Rechargeable batteries contain mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals and extreme environmental toxins that can linger in the environment for years and cause direct and irreversible cancers and reproductive harms. Here in the first world, in spite of federal legislation and nationwide recycling campaigns, it's estimated that less than 20% of people ALWAYS recycle their batteries, and only about 40% even do it occasionally. 60% of people don't bother to recycle them at all, and about 75% of both regular and rechargeable batteries simply end up in the landfills and incinerators.

In developing countries, where no recycling infrastructure exists, 100% of these batteries will either be tossed into open dumps, or will be burned with the household trash. This hasn't been a huge problem in the past because battery operated devices aren't particularly common in rural and developing areas. Pushing "green" technologies that require a new set of batteries every couple of years will change that.

Sure, we're giving them "green" light, but we're also giving their kids cadmium poisoning

[Chef Eric]

14. These bulbs use NiMh batteries, not NiCd. They do not have cadmium.

These may not be 100% environmentally friendly, but then again, no lights are. The important thing is that they are friendlier than kerosene lamps, and they don't emit toxic fumes, and they don't pose a fire hazard.

These bulbs offer people who don't have electricity another CHOICE on how to light their homes. I think choices are good things, and I think people deserve choices (even if they are poor).

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. Isn't a solar-powered light bulb like

a fan that runs on wind power?

[Regret My New Name]

12. NO!

It's more like a windmill powered by a fan which in turn powers the fan that powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that in turn powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that in turn powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that in turn powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that in turn powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan that in turn powers the windmill that in turn powers the fan....

SWEEET!!! Perpetual Motion Free Energy Machine Thingy!!

I deserve a nobel peace prize

[Ian David]

13. It charges during the day and lights-up at night. n/t

[drm604]

16. This is nothing new, as others have already said.

In fact, calling it a "solar powered lightbulb" is misleading, in my opinion. It's a battery powered lightbulb. The batteries just happen to be charged by solar cells.

If I installed enough solar panels on my house to power a bunch of standard incandescent bulbs, for example, would they then become "solar powered lightbulbs"? I guess they would, but there'd be nothing groundbreaking about the bulbs.

Don't get me wrong, LED bulbs are great, but the article is misleading. It's basically Nokero corporate PR.

[Chef Eric]

17. Until now, has there been a solar-charged LED bulb that sold for $15?

I don't think there has.

Yes, this is nothing more than PR. However, it's PR about a product that may be useful for some poor people who don't have electricity.

[boppers]

18. "don't have electricity"?

Then how will the bulb work, hydraulics?

:evilgrin:

[Chef Eric]

19. Some people in this world don't have electrical outlets in their homes.

And an inexpensive light that doesn't need to be plugged in might be useful to such people.

[boppers]

20. Well, it was a simple jest.

The point is that such a lightbulb *is* running off of electricity. People who are off the grid can collect/generate, and use, electricity just fine.

[Chef Eric]

21. Sorry, I didn't realize you were joking. And yes, I understand your point. nt

[drm604]

22. The hype says "world's first solar powered lightbulb"

That's just not true.

These may be fantastic, I don't know, but misleading advertising really bugs me. Sorry if that bothers you.