Nokero debuts rugged, rainproof N100 solar light bulb for developing worlds
By Darren Murph 
posted June 9th 2010 2:31PM
posted June 9th 2010 2:31PM
NOKERO INTRODUCES WORLD'S ONLY SOLAR LIGHT BULB TO PROVIDE CLEAN, SAFE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS AROUND THE GLOBE
- Designed as an affordable, safe and clean alternative to burning fossil-fuel lamps
- Multiple uses for homes, schools, businesses, outdoor recreation and more
Hong Kong, (June 10, 2010) - Nokero International Ltd today announced the release of the Nokero N100, the world's only solar light bulb™.
The innovative Nokero bulb offers an affordable, clean and safe lighting solution to 1.6 billion people worldwide – a quarter of the human population – who live without electricity and rely on fossil-fuel lanterns for lighting.
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.
"We've done everything we can to make this solar bulb affordable and long-lasting so the people who need it can afford it, and reap the benefits, " said Nokero's inventor and founder Stephen Katsaros. "There are so many ways this product can change lives: It can help keep families and shopkeepers safe, help students study at night, eradicate indoor pollution, and reduce worldwide carbon emissions."
More affordable than kerosene
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) estimates that those using fuel lamps spend five percent of their income on fuel. The Nokero bulb removes the cost of fuel, making it affordable even to those living in substandard conditions. It can pay for itself within months when replacing a kerosene lantern because of kerosene's high cost.
Nokero is cordless and doesn't require the infrastructure of traditional grid lighting – removing much of the expense faced when attempting to bring electricity to many parts of the world. It is simple, and doesn't require complicated installation or maintenance.
The bulb provides about four hours of light when fully charged, and about two or more hours of light after a typical day charging in full sunlight.
A cleaner lighting solution
The UNFCC estimates that 190 million tons of carbon dioxide are released by fuel lanterns each year, the equivalent of 30 million cars. The Nokero bulb is solar-powered and does not emit carbon dioxide. Users can expect to save up to 250kg (550 pounds) of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in one year when they use Nokero bulb versus burning kerosene.
A safer lighting solution
Continued study by the UNFCCC found that families and children using fuel lanterns suffer from increased indoor air pollution and fire risk. Millions of students study in poor lighting conditions and millions more face reduced nighttime security. Nokero provides steady, bright and safe light in comparison to kerosene.
"There's no other product like this on the market," Katsaros said. "This bulb represents our best chance at eradicating an outdated, dangerous practice and replacing it with a safe, sustainable solution."
Nokero is built to last. It is made of impact resistant plastic, four solar panels, and five bright LEDs (light emitting diodes). It can withstand wind, rain, and weather.
The replaceable, nickel metal hydride battery lasts up to two years, and is easily and cheaply replaced. With long-lasting solar panels and LEDs rated for 50,000 hours of light, Nokero N100 can provide reliable light for well beyond the two-year life of the battery.
Nokero has multiple uses. It can be deployed in areas of natural disaster, used for domestic lighting, on camping trips, in schoolhouses or in and around the home or patio. Its elegant light creates a comfortable atmosphere in almost any setting.
@Darkroom Well this is for developing nations, they don't have a lot of money to spend so why put a whole heap of money into designers? As long as it works and is cheap, it's perfect.
Does the dude in the video actually say "eliminate a brighter tomorrow" at the end?!?!?!
@ajcfreak My bad. He says "illuminate" ...
@ajcfreak : ...or did he? DUN-DUN-DAAAAHHH
@ajcfreak Yeah, Illuminatti finally made their move towards world domination xD
"can provide around four hours of light when fully charged; if you leave it in the sun all day, it'll harness enough juice to provide illumination for around two hours."
^This is smart. If only I could figure out a way to get the sun to stay up for 24 hours so I could get a full charge?!?!?!
@GeneralThade
In this instance:
Day = the amount of time the sun is up
Day /= 24 hours
This idea is brilliant and helpful. Kudos for the tech--and may it rapidly improve into something we can all use.
@GeneralThade I guess the battery can hold the charge, so if you are ok with light only every other night, you can squeeze 4hrs out of this thing... brilliant... I guess the place of residence need at least 2 of these to alternate..
They need to OLPC this thing. buy one, give one
@victor But we in the developing world don't really need them.
*Developed
@chriskalan
I dunno, I'd buy a couple for camping maybe.
@chriskalan I'd buy one (Canadian), it would be great in a tent while camping, or even outside in my deck.
@chriskalan
strange, considering I want one (US)
Assuming that this light bulb gets direct sunlight in the first place... and even then its not going to get sun on each panel most of the time or be angled at all appropriately.
How exactly is this better than just putting a solar panel on the roof, and running a little bit of wire?
@Ducman69
$6 a piece compared to thousands to set up solar.
@dardub
*solar roof top panels to be more specific
@Ducman69 It's far cheaper than buying a solar panel, wiring and a rechargeable battery. It's also portable.
@Ducman69
I agree.
I think single solar panel with a battery, a bit of wire and an LED lamp (all the same or equivalent to those used on this lamp) would cost about the same and work better if used for interior lighting.
@Ducman69 they probably took into account the fact that not all the panels will be facing the sun at one time. a bigger issue is that unless the panels are cleaned occasionally, they will lose efficiency.
@kabloink this *IS* a solar panel, battery, and LED.
Its basically the same thing as a solar garden light, minus the housing.
the only change would be separating the solar panel/battery assembly from the bulb, and connecting them with very cheap thin gauge wiring, which could then power not only an LED but a radio, walkietalkies, and other such basic electronics.
@Wolfticket
$15 x10 = far less than any rooftop panel I've seen.
this is intended to portable, flexible, good for emergency use.
panel and wire would certainly be better for more static/permanent installs that could afford it.
@c w j thats because most rooftop kits you know of are of tremendously greater output than this.
they have small portable panels too, the main complaint is that you have to keep a bulb intended to be screwed into a socket outside to charge and the panel design is horrific, as most of the panels are in their own shadow for most of the day.
@Ducman69 It's really very close to garden lighting. Both are weatherproof, though i guess this one gives out more light than your standard garden light would (which can be picked up for 1.99 a piece btw..)
Some people would call this a lantern.
Alll I heard was Nokia N100 Lightbulb!
I was expecting him to have a cool African accent.
District 9?
@prodigypv reference to Alien movie "District 9" where all aliens are put in an area in South Africa. Quite good joke if you have seen the movie :)
And guess what... these 1.6 billion people he is talking about who live without electricity can hardly spent $6 on a lightbulb.
"world's first" solar light bulb, eh? So I can plug it into a standard light socket? no. Is it the first flashlight with a solar panel? no.
So I think technically it should be called - first solar flashlight/lamp styled from a lightbulb. Even then I think that's a spurious claim.
@travispulley well, I suppose if you unhook that little metal clip, it could actually be possible to screw it into a lamp (if the dimensions are right, not just the design), so I suppose as a stretch they can claim it to be a lightbulb.
@tosvus - sorry, I meant "plug in" as in, could be alternatively used in an actual light socket. I can shove a carrot into a light socket, but that doesn't make it a light bulb.
@tosvus At which point it causes a short or just simply starts melting until the battery heats up enough to explode.
Please don't screw one of these into a socket.
@GeneralThade I was thinking the exact same thing
@Ducman69 because it's much, much cheaper than "just putting a solar panel." In developing nations, cost is king.
I don't get things like this and Solio.
Wouldn't the battery wear out quickly from all the heat?
Leaving something outside to charge in equatorial regions can result in some insane temperatures.
Where are these people supposed to screw this bulb?
@sharkync
It's actually a lantern that just so happens to look like a light bulb. Their FAQ even tells you to "[think] of Nokero as a solar Coleman light or solar Coleman lantern."
FOOCKIN' PRAWNS
@SeeKo The idea is to produce it so that they can be purchased by organizations such as the Red Cross and United Way, etc. for these people who require them.
@Darkroom
Haha, I used to dream my country India would make such a bulb out of sheer necessity! Well that didn't happen!
Am I the only one who thought of the Nokia N900 when the article mentioned Nokero N100? KIRF much?
@Darkroom
2 hrs is way too less. Most people would need at least 4-6 hrs of light...
@egress63
oops! I read the "two years" as two hours... apologies..
very interesting idea. my big question is, why the hell would you design it in the shape of a lightbulb? Since it has no functionality as an actual 'bulb" in any traditional sense, why not design it more efficiently?
the panels seem arranged in a design so the majority of them are going to be in it's own shadow at any given time. and even if a panel is receiving sunlight, the sharp angles seem detrimental to collecting direct sunlight.
@Marked That's probably partly why they only manage to charge 2 hrs/day. I'm guessing the test is to hang it out in the sun, and see how much they charge it without touching it throughout the day. In theory there would be better use to have all panels on one side, but then you'd have to keep turning it. (wonder if they could build in some mechanical thing to have it slowly rotate, that would be neat).
Of course, the other problem is, whoever uses it must remember to take it outside in the morning to charge, then take it in at night to use...
@egress63 Nah... it does say 2 hours. The product itself is good for about 2 years, but a full-days charge will give two hours of light.
That is soooo cool. I want half a dozen of them for when I go on a camping trip.
I'm not sure but I think light is the last thing these people will think about, let's start with water, food en meds, maybe some iPads....
@SHFT - if you rtfa'd , this is to replace the intended user's kerosene lamp that costs money for fuel, might burn down your dwelling, and releases toxic fumes that one must breathe if wanting to use it inside. People who need water, food, and meds still need to see in the dark, sometimes for the specific purpose of procuring food, water, or meds.