'Solar Night Light' most innovative idea for 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA, Philippines - Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc. in the Philippines on Tuesday declared the “Solar Night Light Project” of sustainable solutions advocate Illac Dizon as winner in the search for innovative ideas to help the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas recover faster.

Dizon’s project was judged overall winner by a select panel of experts that included World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag and Director for National Center for Health Promotion Dr. Ivanhoe Escartin, and ICANSERVE Foundation Founding President Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala.

The panel screened 1,057 entries received and selected top five entries that included Dizon’s project. The panel selected the winning entries based on its impact, innovativeness, relevance, and feasibility.

“We are glad that thousands of Filipinos showed support for their countrymen by sharing ideas on how innovation can make a difference in the lives of those affected by typhoon Yolanda,” said Philips Philippines Country Manager Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno.

“All top 5 finalists had great ideas and we wished to be able to implement them all. We had to carefully look into the technical feasibility of each single project with the panelists, technical experts, coupled with the results from the public votes. The team of Illac Diaz had the most feasible idea where Philips expertise can help (his) MyShelter Foundation (MSF) to improve the concept design and together, we can deploy the first range of night lights. It is a project that can revolutionize access to lighting in areas where there are limited or no access to lighting at all. It is more than a product concept – it is a sustainable way of bringing light to off-grid areas in the Philippines,” Bueno added.

Dizon’s Solar Night Light Project will be the first Philips "Meaningful Innovation" to be delivered in Tacloban and Iloilo.

According to Dizon, My Shelter Foundation’s (MSF) “Liter of Light” project redesigns solar lighting for the developing world. The simple, two-step solar lighting technology creates local jobs, teaches green skills, and empowers local communities.

The “Liter of (Day) Light” is a do-it-yourself affordable system that allows the sun’s rays into homes, schools, and public centers. Using recycled plastic soda bottles, 10 milliliters of bleach, and distilled water, the bottle is placed through galvanized steel sheet roofs common to many developing countries. Sunlight refracts through the bottle and bends to light the space below with 55 watts of brightness, saving an average of US $10 in electricity bills a month and 200 kilos of carbon a year.

Using solar power, and a simple circuit board built from readily available parts, MSF will then work with Philips on technical improvements to make the lights work even at night. Priority areas for deploying the solar night lights will be Tacloban and Iloilo where bunkhouses were built by the government to serve as temporary homes to more than 200 displaced families.

Philips meanwhile will be implementing the winning idea within 2014 by working in close coordination with the team of Diaz. The process of testing and piloting the Solar Night Light prototype will start immediately and this prototype is expected to be sampled and appraised for the next six months

“Each solar bottle light saves 200 kilos of carbon emissions by preventing burning of fossil fuels that is commonly used by power plants to generate electricity,” said Diaz.

“We intend to inspire an army of people willing to bring light to affected communities, and Philips and MyShelter Foundation hope to serve as catalysts for this movement,” added Diaz.

“Imagine how big the impact of night lights is in these bunkhouses they now consider their homes. We’re not just lighting up homes – we’re providing hope to more families for starting anew,” said Bueno.

Bueno said Philips Philippines’ “Innovation that matters to You” is a program committed to deliver meaningful innovation that will help improve the health and wellness state of Filipinos in a chosen community.

“At Philips, we believe people should be healthy, live well and enjoy life. We are a technology company that cares about people. We listen, discover and challenge to deliver meaningful innovation. Innovation that Matters to You Campaign by Philips underlines our commitment to deliver meaningful innovation that improves the quality of people’s lives in Asia Pacific. It aims to help build sustainable and livable living and working environments, promote healthy eating habits, active aging and personal- and childcare and establishing affordable and accessible healthcare systems and effective ways to dealing with chronic diseases,” she said.