Team:Copenhagen/Design

BIOLOGICAL NEON
- makes urban neon light sustainable

Light without electricity
We are all familiar with the neon signs illuminating the streets of cities all over the world. Neon signs are advertising for small shops, brands and companies everywhere. We have all seen parks with fountains beautifully lit up at night and everyone has come across architectural buildings with facades illuminated by light. Imagine a cityscape where every neon sign and every illuminated fountain and facade is CO2 neutral and does not use electricity. This can come true with the new biological neon - a sustainable solution that lives and transforms CO2 into light and oxygen.

What is biological neon?
Biological neon is a cyanobacteria, called Cyanodelux, which emits light when it is dark. Cyanodelux only needs salt water, air, sunlight, and CO2 to produce light when it is dark. As a bonus it also produces oxygen and will improve the air in the city. Cyanodelux bacteria are kept alive in an aquarium-like environment. Cyanodelux performs the natural process of photosynthesis and does not use any electricity to produce light when it is dark. Cyanodelux recharges every day by being in the sunlight and gets ready to emit light when it is dark enough. Cyanodelux is only turned on when needed because it has a natural internal switch. It will therefore only produce light when it is actually needed.

What to use biological neon for?
Biological neon has many commercial applications and can perform in urban settings as a sustainable alternative to light from electricity. This is demanded in a time where we have to think of innovative ways to use the resources of the earth. The use of biological neon will truly bring down the energy consumption in the city. The concept of biological neon can be used as a platform to think innovatively about the way we use light and electricity in urban settings.