They may seem like the bottom of the food chain, but one day, the bacteria of the world could light our cities. And if Parisian startup Glowee gets its way, the City of Lights may soon be dependent on bioluminescent bacteria to keep up its nickname.
Glowee dubs itself the “living lighting energy company” that sits at the “crossroads of biomimicry and biotechnology.” Its technology relies on bioluminescence, which is the production and emission of light by some living organisms such as fireflies, glow-worms, and over 80% of marine organisms.
Glowee develops a bioluminescent raw material made of microorganisms that can grow indefinitely. It engineers these microorganisms (Aliivibrio fischeri bacterium) to make them more efficient in terms of light production (intensity, stability, capacity) and can deploy them to public spaces to provide light with no external power source of any kind.
This way, according to Glowee, cities can reduce the environmental footprint of lighting, saving our limited natural resources like rare metals that are used in LEDs and reduce pollution generated by the production, consumption and end-of-life of traditional lighting systems.
“Our goal is to change the way we produce and use light,” explained Glowee founder Sandra Rey. “We want to offer a global solution that will reduce the 19 percent of electricity used to produce light.”
The same technology will help cities improve comfort and well-being by reducing light and visual pollution that is affecting more than 80% of Earth’s inhabitants.
Glowee pitches its offering as a sustainable system made for tomorrow’s landscapes; it is working with energy companies, real estate companies, architects, landscape architects, municipalities, artists, designers, builders and hotels to help fulfill their needs for sustainable lighting.
The company showcased its technology by popping up a “Glowzen Room,” inviting visitors to relax under the dim turquoise lights, reminiscent of deep oceans. Also, it signed an agreement to test its technology in the French city of Rambouillet.
Takeaway
Action point
According to Glowee, cities can reduce the environmental footprint of lighting, saving our limited natural resources like rare metals that are used in LEDs and reduce pollution generated by the production, consumption and end-of-life of traditional lighting systems. This proposition alone should be enough for any local official to at least consider procuring a single Glowee installation, which will also help promote the city as modern and the one willing to adopt novel & sustainable technologies.
As noted, Glowee works with energy companies, real estate companies, architects, landscape architects, municipalities, artists, designers, builders and hotels to help fulfill their needs for sustainable lighting. If your company is in that group — or could serve as a middleman in the process — you may want to consider partnering with Glowee to bring its technology to your area. It's a novel and sustainable technology that also works without other energy sources. Should be a relatively easy sell...