Slowly but surely, illumination is converging on a perfect solid statelighting that can be delivered for modest costs and a huge life span.
Here we get two decades and excellent color quality for an openingprice of $30.00. Within a short timethis standard will be met and prices will continue to drop.
It has actually taken a long time and the problem was obviously seen asimportant with the first oil shock in the late seventies. This next decade will see it off though. It does remind us of just how hard it is tomove directly to a recognized goal that everyone can agree is desirable.
The good news is that the political world is already behind the processas can be seen from the outright elimination of incandescent bulbs recently. Once quality is confirmed and supply linesfirmed up, we can expect more of the same. The benefit is just too clear.
LightingScience Unveils its Incandescent Killer
Couldthis 60-watt equivalent LED bulb be the one that goes mainstream? Watch out forthe buzz.
MICHAELKANELLOS: DECEMBER 13, 2010
The millionth timecould be a charm.
Lighting Science Groupjust manufactured its millionth light bulb, and to commemorate the event, thatmillionth bulb is one that the company hopes will let LED bulbs go mainstream.
The bulb gives off 850lumens, or around the same amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent bulb. Thebulb, however, will only cost around $30 when it hits shelves soon. Two yearsago, 60-watt equivalents sold for $100. A single LED bulb can save around $10to $12 a year in energy costs. The lower price tag could make this bulb easierto sell to consumers.
The other interestingpart, however, is that Lighting Science bulbs actually work quite well. We'vetested a bunch of LED bulbs recently--a 40 watt equivalent from LemnisLighting, a 30 watt equivalent from Toshiba, a 60 watt equivalent from Philips--and a 40watt equivalent from Lighting Science has beat them all. (See video tests hereand here.) The $20-ish Lighting Science bulb isalso less expensive than the Lemnis and Philips bulbs. You can buy them in HomeDepot now under the EcoSmart brand. The Lighting Science bulb gives off a morewhite light than the Lemnis or Philips bulb (which give off a more familiaryellow). It also buzzed in two separate sockets, which was incredibly annoying.I'm actually sitting under that bulb now and noticed it is buzzing again. If itfails in the market, the noise will be the reason.
Still, for pureillumination, it hasn't be beat. The 40 watter only gives off 429 lumens so the60 watt bulb--expect to see it at Home Depot under the EcoSmart brand too--willgive off even more light.
Osram and GeneralElectric will also soon come out with household LED bulbs. The ConsumerElectronics Show is just around the corner in January. Coincidence? I thinknot.
LEDs also last 30,000to 50,000, or decades in a single light socket, way more than incandescents andfluorescents. Lighting Sciences gives this new bulb a 50,000 hour life: in anordinary household socket, that translates to almost two decades. That longlife means lower maintenance: lower maintenance and energy costs will allowLEDs to grow faster in businesses than homes. Groom Energy and GTM Researchestimate that LEDs for business will be a $1 billion market by 2014.
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