Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?
Gravity-powered lamp
Passive
One of 2 ways to meet this need. Cost, carbon, footprint and rankings are relative to other solutions for the same need, not absolute.
A lamp powered by a slowly falling weight: you lift the weight and, as it sinks, it turns a small generator through gears. A few seconds of lifting give 20 to 30 minutes of soft light. It needs no battery, no grid and no sun, and gives off no fumes.
Levels are relative to the other options for this need, not absolute. Fewer dots is lighter.
Gravity-powered lamp (This page) Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: Intermediate · Upkeep: None · Change to daily life: Daily · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you want light with no battery, grid or sun, and no fumes.
LED lighting Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: Basic · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: No Choose it if you want the same light for a fraction of the electricity, even from a small solar system.
Sources
Wikipedia (GravityLight/Deciwatt) + Al Jazeera coverage
Limitations of this page
We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.