MAR 16

Few people know it, but the soil is teeming with energy in the form of zinc, copper and iron. Special microbial fuel cells – so-called “Earth batteries” – can transform this energy into electricity.

While solar lawn lamps are great, it is hard to deny the appeal of Dutch designer Marieke Strap’s Soil Lamp. This cool-looking lawn ornament takes a slightly different approach to soil energy. It takes copper and zinc strips, made out of metals naturally extracted from the soil, and uses them to provide a constant charge to a long-lifetime LED bulb – no bacteria required.

There is one catch – the bulb requires a bit of water to keep it going, but most people water their lawns anyways, so this is not a huge issue. The lamp earns high marks both for its chic design and for being among the first to explore the new field of soil-powered gadgets.

For those interested in picking up one of these cool lamps, it is unfortunately not currently available for order in the U.S. However, as many of Marieke Strap’s products are at retailers worldwide, and given the enthusiastic response, there seems little doubt that these lamps may soon be coming to a lawn near you.

via Inhabitat

Comments (10)

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written by John Rowell, March 16, 2009

This is something I'd like to have for my lawn. Uber-cool!

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Using the earth as an electrolyte
written by macrumpton, March 16, 2009

This lamp is just using the moist earth as an electrolyte for a the copper and zinc anodes and cathodes. It is kind of a gimmick because you could just use a jar of salt water instead of the earth and it would work the same. Google "instructables battery" and you will see dozens of variations.

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Has potential
written by Poida, March 16, 2009

Now all they need to do is stop using the extra Copper & Zinc - has to be mined in the first place & how much embodied energy is in it? Does it use more than it generates?

Great concept, opens up new fields to explore!!!

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Greenwashing at its finest
written by Damo, March 17, 2009

As noted by the previous commentors, this is purely a gimmick. The earth imparts no "energy" into this system. Further, the laws of thermodynamics dictate that it will produce less energy than was used to mine and refine the materials in the first place.

You may as well use a solar-panel driven LED garden light... at least the solar panel has a chance to repay the energy deficit over its lifetime.

This is nothing but greenwashing at its finest.

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written by michael, March 17, 2009

is this not going to be leaching value minerals from the soil?

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Will degrade
written by Miel Breitsammer, March 17, 2009

Solar powered Lamps are much better, because this lamp will degrade quickly.

Anyway, the design is very cool.

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Washing the green knob
written by Crossfire, March 17, 2009

If you live within 400 yards downhill from a cemetery then it is a simple matter to extract enough power to run your garden lights and patio lamps.

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written by Fry, March 17, 2009

Wait... did this blog just place a comment about it being okay to just water your lawn without any critique of it? Obviously, the impact of that will depend on the area but in many cases that uses more energy and is more damaging to the environment than using an outdoor lightbulb.

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written by Karkus, March 17, 2009

This is greenwashing at it's worst (and it's a shame bloggers here are giving it undeserved publicity).

Batteries contain metals.
Most metals can be found in "soil".
Metals are typically mined.
This is nothing more than a greenwashed battery, and not a very good one at that.

Could you bloggers institute a simple review policy? Before posting, send it out to at least one of the other bloggers to review it?

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written by Fred, June 25, 2009

Thats great would it work in areas where there are droughts

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