MIT Design Intelligence Lab made the Geolectric lamp with the aim of cutting carbon emissions by a significant level. The sustainable lamp is made with locally available materials, providing a green alternative to reduce dependence on rare earth materials used in consumer electronics. The unique lamp is part of the Geolectric project, created by Marcelo Coelho and his team, including Jacob Payne and Jean-Baptiste Labrune.
Through this project, Coelho wanted to show that electronics can be made without using resource-intensive materials, which only damage the environment. By using sustainable materials, we can lower the carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change.
The Geolectric lamp is made from inorganic geopolymer, which can be made easily from industrial byproducts and waste materials. The lamp shows how the electronic parts can be embedded directly inside the geopolymer during fabrication. This process completely cuts out any need for plastic or ceramic lighting during manufacturing.
Let’s break it down further about the embedding process. During the fabrication, while the polymer is still soft, the electronic parts are gently placed inside it. This inorganic material hardens at room temperature, with the electronic parts locked inside it safely without causing any damage. This process forms the body with electronics embedded inside in one step, unlike other lamps that do the opposite.
The geopolymer isn’t a newly created material, but its composition is different. Belonging to a class of inorganic material, it is made from minerals like aluminum silicate and sodium silicate. These minerals are even used for making ceramics, but the only difference is in the processing temperature. That is why the geopolymer not only looks like ceramics but also functions like it. This way, an inorganic material becomes a green alternative to resource-intensive ceramics, which require hot firing.
The lamp has a smooth and minimalist design without any visible lines or seams, as the electronic parts are hidden deep inside. Its design seems as if different thin rods are joined together to form a cylindrical shape. The lamp is made from two rounded polymer parts, forming the top and the base.
The geopolymer top has a proximity and a touch sensor directly embedded in it, which doesn’t require the use of plastic or rubber seals and provides a clean aesthetic. The lamp’s base has LED lights embedded in a circular shape. A ribbed glass tube between the two geopolymer pieces completes the design.
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The lamp lights up when you touch its top. It also lights up when you are nearby. When turned on, it gives a soft glow that creates a subtle lighting effect through the glass.
The geopolymer lamp embodies the essence of the Geolectric project. Using recyclable materials in the lamp design helps lower its environmental impact. The Geolectric lamp demonstrates how electronic components can be directly embedded into sustainable materials, eliminating the need for separate rubber, plastic, or ceramic components. This distinct lamp was given as a gift to the former Irish President Mary Robinson.
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