Balloon project could light up arctic towns

Two Ontario architecture students have big ideas on how to light up Arctic communities that remain dark through the winter months.

University of Waterloo students Virginia Fernandez and Claire Lubell, both 24, just won an honourable mention in an international architecture competition for their project called Buoyant Light.

The concept: giant, solar balloons which would hover by the shore and near major centres in a northern village. In the summer months, a device inside the balloons would collect sunlight; through the winter months, the balloons would give off light.