Gravia - Lamp that Uses No Electricity Can Last 200 Years

A recent viewing of my electric bill made me realize it was time that I did my part to conserve energy. I may not be like the vast majority who do it to save the planet but I am happy to do it to benefit myself. Electricity can be very expensive and seems to be going up in cost over the years. I wanted to find a solution besides unplugging all of my devices when I am not using. The Gravia Lamp happens to be my solution because it uses no electricity at all and still brightens your room in the process.

I probably should mention that this lamp has the ability to last 200 years as well. Now I know I have your attention! Students at Virginia Tech University manages to create the Gravia Lamp with the sole purpose of not using an electricity to operate it. The LED lamp uses a source of energy that we often forget, that source being the Earth's gravity. Sleek in design and kind of tall (4 feet tall to be exact), this is one cool lamp.

Inside of this tube like structured lamp are 10 LED lights that are built into the sides. These LED lights are powered by the energy that is produced by any movement of weight that slowly lowers. Basically, all you have to do is pick up the lamp once a day. The process of raising the lamp once a day moves the weight amongst gravity and helps produce more energy. As stated before, that energy is then used to power the lamp without any actual electricity.

This invention was seen as so unique and amazing that it actually won the Greener Gadget award last year. The students should definitely be commended on creating a lamp that is the true definition of using green energy. At the same time that their invention is amazing, several manufacturers are fighting against it being mass produced because they believe it would give the manufacturer a monopoly over the light-bulb market. This could result in it being several years before we have one in our homes.

It is understandable why people would fight the release of the Gravia Lamp. Why would anyone want to buy a lamp that needs to have it's light-bulbs replaced almost religiously. Others would argue that this product needs to be manufacturers as soon as possible because it might spurn other products capable of doing the same. Maybe then my electric company will stop charging me insane prices to receive something that we all seem to need. Hopefully soon we might not need it after all.