Grad Student invents lamp powered by Gravity
Cord-free, free-standing, and dramatically elegant, the Gravia lamp is living proof that free energy is everywhere, and harnessing it can be done attractively.
A little over four feet high, the entire column glows with LEDs when it is activated. To turn the lamp on, you release a small weight that travels down the length of the inner column.
As it travels, the force it exerts spins a rotor that generates enough power to illuminate the column at an equivalent rate to a 40W incandescent bulb for four hours. That's with just one push of a weight.
Not only that, but the lamp will endure. The inventor estimates that the main mechanism and LED lights will survive 200 years of constant use.
The credit for this fantastic invention goes to a Virginia Tech student named Clay Moulton. Learn more about the lamp and the designer's philosophy at http://www.core77.com/competitions/greenergadgets/projects/4306/.
I would love to see this go mainstream. What a great idea!
Posted by: Allie | February 19, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Allie, I know...I really want one already. Just goes to show that energy is all around us and we just have to get clever about how we harvest it!
Posted by: bravenewleaf | February 19, 2008 at 02:20 PM