A solar lighting initiative by PhoScope

From Hurricanes to Earthquakes: Puerto Rico’s Darkness Calls for Resilient Lighting Systems.

By

February 7, 2020

Today the House approved an earthquake relief package for Puerto Rico, but the White House opposes releasing the funds. Meanwhile the island is still awaiting billions of dollars in aid approved for reconstruction after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Puerto Rico has experienced hundreds of aftershocks since the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the island on January 7th and caused an island-wide power outage. This is compounding existing damage from the devastating Hurricanes Maria and Irma that still hasn’t been adequately addressed. Maria caused the largest blackout in US history (second largest in the world!) and it took 11 months to restore power.  This sequence of natural disasters and inadequate responses highlight the need for off-grid power.

Light Reach’s solar lighting kits provide an immediate solution to communities experiencing light poverty: they are rapidly deployable and easy to install. In the event of a hurricane, one kit allows a community to distribute 50 portable lights to families, and to shelter and immediately re-install 10 flood lights and 5 pole lights.

Together, we can do a lot. Help us bring resilient and sustainable lighting solutions to Puerto Rican communities. Please contact us to become a project sponsor, and donate: https://lightreach.net/donate/

Now working with three communities

By

March 1, 2019

We meet again with our partner Gustavo from Impec to refine the selection of all solar stationary lights…

and we head out to our second workshop where twenty residents of the barrio Mariana de Humacao await us… After another successful workshop, we test our new solar floodlights to help the community create landscape lighting on the playground.

The next day we join our new partner, La Maraña, on a visit to Comerío where we will soon launch our third pilot project.

We begin our second pilot project

By

January 11, 2019

  • Proyecto Enlace del Caño Martín Peña

Finally, we can install the first pole light … but we had to choose another location for the prototype, due to illegal dumping on the site they originally selected: Enlace and the community are working on this– to be continued.

  • Installation of first pole

Our team also goes to Humacao to meet with the community leaders of Barrio Mariana, and visits the playground which they are working on with La Maraña and where they would like to do a Recreo de Noche project (RDN2).

Our first workshop with children

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November 16, 2018

Marién is back in San Juan for the pilot project of Recreo de Noche to do a workshop on light with children at the Mini Oratorio Los Hijos de Don Bosco. We also welcome Stephanie and Lorna who have joined the RDN team, as well as Llaima, who has volunteered to film the workshop.

  • three kids experimenting with portable lights
  • children in a lighting workshop

Despite torrential rains, the first workshop was a success: mission accomplished, and everyone asked for the next one! The installation of the pole light prototype that was scheduled with the community was cancelled, but our volunteers were able to test some landscape lighting effects with the four sample solar utility flood lights we purchased.

Our first trip to Puerto Rico!

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September 14, 2018

  • photo of first visit to project partner enlace

Our team goes to Puerto Rico to meet with the Proyecto Enlace del Caño Martín Peña, our pilot project partners, and to review with them which of the Buena Vista Hato Rey community’s playgrounds is the best candidate for a pilot Recreo de Noche project (RDN1).

  • photo of first project site

We also visit the lighting retail store Impec and meet with the owners to discuss the project and establish a supply chain for the RDN program.

  • visiting impec
  • our distributor impec

Seed funding for Recreo de Noche!

By

July 15, 2018

We received seed funding for our first pilot project under the Recreo de Noche program in Puerto Rico! Thank you to Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) and Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNYC)!

logo for designers lighting forum NY
logo for illuminating engineering society

Days are short in the tropics, and PhoScope is launching Recreo de Noche in Puerto Rico to rapidly deploy solar lighting in community playgrounds for use after sunset. This program will serve the immediate recreational and social needs of many Puerto Ricans who are deprived of electrical power.

  • Recreo de Noche

Recreo de Noche is a replicable model for the procurement of a kit of solar lighting products for community groups who will distribute and install them in collaboration with teams of volunteers. The volunteers will moderate public discussions and hold participatory workshops on light and lighting.

  • diagram of our solar lighting kits