Innovation: Illuminating a new world

“You can’t solve a problem on the same level that it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level.” These are the words of Albert Einstein, the 1921 Physics Nobel Prize best known to the general public for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc², which has been dubbed “the world’s most famous equation”.

Solving problems in the modern world is a local company, Bulb World with their revolutionary Ultra Violet (UVC) Lights that promise to exterminate disease causing pathogens especially viruses including the Corona Virus Covid-19 that currently has the world on panic mode.

Following the famous saying “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” by Arthur C. Clarke, Bulb World has discovered its calling in light of the current call by Government for action to sterilize and disinfect surroundings.

“The Bulb World has ventured beyond just illumination by introducing germicidal units which incorporate UVC light for disinfection purposes into its product range,” explains 27-year-old Lebogang Moyo, Production Manager at Bulb World.

 The Botswana International University of Science and Technology graduate in Energy Engineering continues that the products are used for disinfection of surfaces and air spaces to minimise the spread of a range of pathogens including viruses and bacteria. Her interests are also aligned with decarbonised innovative solutions in response to climate action.

The ambitious Moyo, who has been with the company for three months, continues to explain that the units are designed with a safety factor in mind as the lights are specifically sealed off within the unit. “Air is sucked into the unit, disinfected over the light and then disinfected air is circulated out into the room. They are safe to use even with children around,” she declares.

Despite UVC being a new technology in fighting an invisible enemy, Moyo is confident that the product is viable and attests to a steadily growing keen interest in the adoption of the UVC units. “The hospitality sector is one of the many that has shown tremendous interest on the lighting units with Avani Hotel being the first to procure these units from us,” she states, excitedly noting that the expectation is that more players are expected to join in the procurement bandwagon.

Questioned on the general uptake of the lighting units by the Moyo said the response has been positive overall and they are hopeful that there will soon be a greater uptake. UVC light can be used as an inactivating agent for disease carrying viruses and ultimately reduce the ability to cross infect.

“Currently worldwide it has been integrated into everyday life to return a sense of ‘normal’ to operations and is being used together with other measures put in place to, as far as possible, reduce the spread of the Covid-19,” she says.