Free Light, Fresh Air: The Promise of French Algae Lamps

Okay, here’s a riddle: What sort of lamp creates its own electricity, transforms co2 (CARBON DIOXIDE) into oxygen, has no on/off switch, as well as works 24 hr a day?

An algae light, of course! While you will not discover these at your local illumination store anytime quickly, the cutting-edge algae lights invented by French biochemist Pierre Calleja have the prospective to aid purify our atmosphere and conserve enormous amounts of electricity … by developing their very own.

Below’s exactly how they function: The lights are basically big clear containers filled with water, algae, a light, as well as a chargeable battery. Particular kinds of algae– Calleja says they’re among “male’s best friends”– can feed off the sun’s energy and/or natural carbon.

Inside the light, the algae break down CO2 into oxygen particles and also carbohydrate energy. They make use of that power to produce power, which is saved in the battery and also can sustain the light also when the sun isn’t out. So the light is free, as well as also far better– the oxygen produced by the algae returns to the environment.

Here’s why that’s important: CARBON DIOXIDE, an extremely usual result of human task, is one of the greenhouse gases that adds to environment adjustment. Trees and also various other plants transform CARBON DIOXIDE into oxygen and also power, however as humans turn eco-friendly areas like forests right into areas for buildings, farming, as well as mines, we lose the trees and their oxygenating results, which increases the supposed pollution of climatic warming.

A microbiologist for 20 years, Calleja states that one of his lamps, lately set up in a below ground parking lot in Bordeaux, France, can capture and also filter actually a lots of CARBON DIOXIDE a year. This lamp represents the beginning of his desire: He would love to see his algae lights installed not simply in garages, however likewise in residences and also along roads, where they can detoxify the exhaust right from cars’ tailpipes.

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