A New LED Light Bulb with 7 Shades of White

“Any color you like, as long as it’s white!” No, it’s not a bizarro version of Henry Ford, just Sharp’s new LED light bulb. Using the included remote control one can dial through 7 different shades of white light – without any white heat.

Ambiance at your fingertips has arrived, thanks to Japan’s Sharp Electronics Corporation. According to Sharp, the new DL-L60AV LED Lamp allows users to adjust the color function of the light bulb through a range of 7 different shades “ranging from a pleasing warm white to a cooler daylight white to match the weather, the season, time of day, purpose, or other preferences.” The adjustment is done via a hand-held remote control that also allows users to tune the brightness of the bulb to suit their preference. Forget Henry Ford, what would Thomas Edison think?

The thought of a single light bulb needing a remote control may seem somewhat extravagant but Sharp intends for the bulbs to act as stand-alone lamps; one per room is enough. The DL-L60AV LED Lamp is rated at 560 lumens – tops in the industry – yet cost a mere penny to run continuously for 11 hours. One especially “bright” feature of the DL-L60AV LED Lamp is its base; exactly the same as standard incandescent light bulbs so it can be used in existing lamps and light fixtures.

I’m not done yet: this bulb is cool – literally. LED’s don’t create heat like incandescent bulbs do, which means they don’t waste energy on creating such heat.

They also differ from incandescent light sources in that they emit very little light in the 350-nm waveband, the part of the light spectrum that lies in the ultraviolet range and attract insects. This makes the DL-L60AV LED Lamp ideal for outdoor use, especially near entry/exit doors.

The DL-L60AV LED Lamp is one of nine new high-efficiency, mercury-free LED light bulbs to be introduced to the Japanese home market this July 15. All have the convenient screw-type base that negates the need for expensive retrofitting. Very cool indeed!

LED There Be Light

While LED (light-emitting diode) costs are still high, this type of lighting is extremely long-lasting. And as prices come down, its efficiency could lead to huge energy savings.

The first consumer LED products lit up in the 1970s, with red light numbers on pocket calculators and push-button displays on big, geeky Pulsar watches. Then came those centered, high-mounted brake lights in the rear windows of cars. Now LEDs are found in everything from traffic lights to operating rooms to greenhouses.

An LED is a device that produces light when an electrical current flows through it. The color it emits depends on the materials used to make the diode.

“It won’t be long before LED lighting technology has a space on your desk, has a space on your ceiling, certainly has a space on your car,” says Russell Dupuis, an electro-optics professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dupuis was awarded the 2002 National Medal of Technology for his work on LEDs.

“Most cars today have a whole lot of LED, certainly the instrument cluster,” he says.

And some cities are also investing in LED for their roads. Dupuis says LED traffic signals would pay for themselves in about three months because of energy savings. And how long do they last? “Until somebody knocks the pole down!” he laughs.

Here are some numbers from the U.S. Department of Energy comparing lifetimes of LEDs to traditional lighting:

• Incandescent bulbs: 750-2,000 hours
These bulbs haven’t changed much in 120-plus years; they give off 80 percent heat and only 20 percent light.

• Compact fluorescent bulbs: 8,000-10,000 hours
CFLs are more efficient than incandescent. but do contain small amounts of mercury.

• High-power white LEDs: 35,000-50,000 hours
The Department of Energy estimates a quarter of the electricity in the United States is used for lighting, costing $50 billion per year. The agency says new technology could reduce lighting energy use by 50 percent.

For some big companies, the transition already makes sense. ”Walmart decided to replace the lighting in all of its refrigerated cases with LED lights,” Dupuis says. “Every store is going to save enough in six months to pay for this change.”

There’s also a niche for special lighting needs. Some surgical teams are using LED headlamps and operating-room lighting. LEDs also light up the words of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the Jefferson Memorial. And at the British Museum they illuminate the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band uniforms so the fabric doesn’t decay.

OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes, have other intriguing potential. They can be created on paper-thin plastics, and made into wallpaper, window blinds, even clothing.

But it will be several years before consumers can pick up a pack of LEDs at the hardware store. ”Designing lights with LED has inherent challenges,” says Michelle Murray, a spokeswoman for LED lighting manufacturer Cree Inc.

Those challenges prompted the Department of Energy to launch the L-Prize, a competition offering millions in cash prizes for the creation of a “high-quality, high-efficiency solid-state lighting products to replace the common light bulb.”

The Department of Energy admits major consumer confusion when it first started promoting the efficiency of compact fluorescent lights. It says the United States cannot afford to squander the enormous energy-saving potential of LEDs, so it wants to make sure the products are ready for prime time when they do hit the market.

The Department of Energy is setting 2012 as a target for large-volume production and replacement of incandescent lighting.

Battery-free LED Flashlight with Quick-recharge

As we all know that the LED flashlights are use batteries mostly. But a new high-tech flashlight called Light for Life become available to order.

What’s special about it? Well, the flashlight uses three LEDs, but its key component is Flashpoint Power technology, an ultracapacitor energy storage system from Ivus Energy Innovations.

Light for Life recharges in just 90 seconds and shines at 90 lumens for 90 minutes per charge. The flashlight has three modes: bright (270 peak lumens), standard (90 lumens), and strobe, which is good for dance parties or scaring the neighbors’ dog and kids (OK, I’m kidding, but you get the picture).

According to 5.11 Tactical, the 50,000-hour LEDs never have to be replaced and the flashlight is engineered to “offer 10 years of maintenance-free service under typical conditions.” (You can recharge it up 50,000 times or one time a day for 135 years.)

I got a chance to play around with the thing at a recent event, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. It’s lighter (16 ounces) than it looks, and it feels very durable. The one question I asked was: what happens when the power goes out and you have to recharge the thing? Answer: it comes with a 12V DC automotive charger, so you can use your car to charge it up in the event of a power outage.

The only drawback: Light for Life costs a whopping $169.99. But 5.11 Tactical says that when you add up the cost of all those D batteries over the lifetime of a battery-powered police flashlight, it’s still a deal. And then there’s all that good karma you get for not chucking those batteries into the garbage or landfill. It’s hard to put a price on that.

LED Array In The Green Spectral Range

AMS Technologies introduces Enfis Ltd.’s new LED array UNO TAG Long Green 532 nm.

The UNO TAG array completes Enfis line of LED arrays in the green spectral range besides the already available UNO green at 520nm. The new array features an aperture of 0.5 cm2, a 2000mW typical radiant flux, 1000 lumens typical luminous flux and 38W input power.

The LED array UNO long green is available as TAG array, as UNO TILE connectorised PCB array and as complete air cooled light engine with drive electronics.

The UNO long green array finds its usage in several applications including architectural lighting, entertainment lighting, backlighting, signs, illumination, effect lighting as well as forensics and medical and dental applications.

The UNO TAG is shown at LASER World of PHOTONICS (15th to 18th June 2009, Munich) at AMS Technologies stand B1.301.

The new product is available from AMS Technologies throughout Europe from local offices in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

About AMS Technologies
Founded in 1982, AMS Technologies is a leading distributor of high-tech components, systems and instruments in Europe today. Headquartered in Martinsried/Munich, Germany, the company serves regional markets from local sales offices in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. AMS Technologies represents approved global technology leaders and new to market companies that develop innovative, leading edge products in the fields of optoelectronics, thermal management and high power electronics.

The Brightness of the Future of LED Lighting

With the growing awareness of the importance of environmental protection, LED (light emitting diode), due to smaller size, energy efficiency, longer lifespan and quicker activation than traditional lighting sources, is regarded as the answer to future lighting needs.

The lighting industry generally agrees that LED lighting holds immense potential to replace traditional counterparts in the next decade. With global warming threats looming in the background, LED lighting has a bright future for it can be installed literally flat on surfaces, does not shatter like incandescent bulbs, nor pose mercury contaminants as with fluorescents. So featuring low thermal resistance, high luminosity and reliability, LED lighting has been the focus of R&D in recent years, and looks to become a daily lighting source in the future.

Despite well-publicized efforts by many nations, lighting makers and advocates have not been able to sizably increase the market shares of LED lighting, evidenced by relatively few LED lamps available at retailers. Makers optimistically predict that 1W or higher super-bright LEDs are expected to grow at 14% annual compound growth rate in the following years, but so far less than 10% of typical lighting are LED powered. After years of development, LEDs are mainly used for nighttime advertising, auto lamps and traffic lights, with its focus being turned to larger-sized displays indoors and out, but not as mainstream lighting for indoors or outdoors. The costs and prices of LEDs are some 20-times higher than for conventional lighting, as well as the luminous efficiency of white LEDs being only 40-50lm /W are the reasons cited as the hindrances to their becoming more popular. And that LEDs are rarely used in traditional commercial lighting is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Many Challenges
Many obstacles stand in the way for white LEDs to widely replace fluorescent lamps, which are mostly used in office lighting, especially the high-efficiency, super-thin T5 fluorescent tubes. The T5s boast luminous efficiency of 100Lm/W, color rendering of Ra85, 91% light output after 10,000 hours of use, and diameter of only 16mm. Coupled with minimized pollution via using solid mercury alloy, T5s now pose less environmental hazards. Also white LEDs will not likely achieve similar luminous efficiency as T5s in the near future, as well as featuring relatively narrow projection angles, hence unable to illuminate spacious settings.

Instead of significantly boosting the use of LEDs, widely advocated policies to ban or replace incandescent bulbs have directly benefited energy-saving bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). In Taiwan alone, the sales of energy-saving bulbs increased 20-30% annually during January to July 2008. With incandescent bulbs to be completely banned in most developed countries, the demand for energy-saving bulbs due to replacement worldwide will peak in two to three years. Such rising demand will not be met without raising the production of energy-saving bulbs accordingly.

Intermediate Product
An intermediate product, one between traditional halogen and LED lighting, for spotlighting has been developed: Major lighting makers have used ceramics to build the ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamp, which features good color rendering of Ra80-90, stable color temperature, is 4-times as durable as halogen lamps, with low-wattage CMHs burning only half the electricity. Coupled with electronic ballasts, CMHs are not only good lights but also energy efficient.

A study of a furniture chain store in Taiwan shows that replacing 2,700 units of 50W halogen lamps with 1,500 units of 20W CMH lamps saves 118KW per hour. Coupled with the added saving in air conditioning due to reduced heat output from less lighting, a single store saves NT$2.3 million (US$68,886 at US$1: NT$33.4) in power consumption, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 250 metric tons a year to help lessen global warming.

Outlooks
Currently typical LED applications are 80% concentrated in cellphone, automotive, consumer appliance and other displays. Such trend may not change despite the optimism of the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association in Washington, DC, which predicts the luminous efficiency of white LEDs to rise to 150lm/W by 2012, with rapid price reductions to widely popularize such lighting. Also Japan aims to entirely replace fluorescent lamps with white LED lamps nationwide by 2012. Although the R&D of LED lighting has clearly progressed since 2000, but a single LED still has only 5W of maximum efficiency, coupled with 35-40 Lm/W of luminous efficiency for white LEDs, so for such lighting source to be truly practical remains questionable.

LEDs are undoubtedly the best energy-saving lighting solution. But self-delusional mindsets of lighting makers and governments, as well as technical challenges, may blind consumers, preventing them to weigh the issue of marketability.

White LED lamps still leave much to be desired in terms of color temperature. Exceeding 6,000K, white LEDs cannot compete against even incandescent and fluorescent lamps, especially for applications calling for mood-creation as in restaurants, hotels and homes, where fluorescent lamps with color temperature lower than 3,000K are often needed.

Excessively pale color temperatures of white LED lamps also make such products less marketable for residential lighting in temperate zones, for consumers there generally prefer softer lighting to create comfortable, warm atmosphere in homes. In short, white LED`s low luminous efficiency and excessive brightness, which has to be toned down with lens or diffuser, make such lighting less desirable in color rendering and hence less marketable in some locations.

Ultimate Goal
Developing practical LED lighting may not be as difficult as building LED lamps that are rated good products after being used by consumers, which should be the ultimate goal for lighting makers. In other words, lighting makers have to firmly grasp the characteristics and needs of LED lighting applications to turn LEDs into practical, competitive lighting products. The reason that LEDs have yet to become ubiquitous indoor lights is that R&D people lack in-depth understanding of lighting applications, still trying to replace original forms of lighting, when they should be developing LED lighting as a new source by looking at its characteristics and human vision.

As such, more work awaits to be done to study and properly position the suitability and role of LED lighting, as well as integrate the resources of LED makers and lighting designers. The current focuses on LED lighting development seem properly aimed, tapping the inherent properties of such light source as brightness and fast activation, with LEDs mostly used in traffic signals, advertising displays, marquees, emergency lights etc.

The lighting industry now will undergo further systems integration. The top-three lighting makers have been taking over smaller peers in Asia and Eastern Europe to expand markets, as well as horizontally integrating electronic ballast makers to set up systematic lighting businesses, hence enhancing competitiveness.

LED Lighting Saves Money on Long-term

Many people are making the switch to compact fluorescents (CFLs) from incandescent bulbs to save energy. But the CFLs are still not making people happy, because CFLs cost more than standard bulbs and they contain mercury — which is an environmental concern. They take time to warm up to full brightness, especially in cold weather. They flicker and buzz and many people feel they produce an unappealing quality of light — it’s a fluorescent, after all.

Another option to consider when planning your lighting is LEDs. Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology uses a fraction of energy compared to conventional incandescent or even CFLs. And they last a long time before needing replacement — up to 50,000 hours, compared to 6,000 for a CFL or 1,000 for standard incandescent bulbs.

Incandescent lights work by using electricity to heat a filament until it glows. They also give off a lot of excess heat — you know that if you’ve ever touched a light bulb after it’s been on for even a short while. Fluorescent lights work by passing electrical current through a gas-filled tube, which causes it to emit light. LEDs work by channelling electric current through a semi-conductor material — 100 per cent of which is turned into light, with no waste heat produced. LEDs are very energy efficient.

I’ve used LEDs in many renovation projects and in my own home. They have low energy consumption, last a long time, don’t contain mercury and they produce no heat when on. And, since they don’t create infrared or ultraviolet light, they don’t attract bugs and are great for outdoor use. (I’ve got them around my deck.)

The nature of LED light is very focused, so it’s ideally used for accent lighting or task lighting. It’s directional and doesn’t spread well in a general wash — unless you bounce it off interior surfaces or use it as an uplight for an ambient feel. That limits them for many applications.

But, because LEDs are so good at lighting in a single direction, they are perfect for under cabinet lighting in a kitchen, or for lighting hallways and staircases, or for security lighting.

Many people feel that LED light is very cold and intense. It’s not the same yellowish glow we’re used to from standard incandescent bulbs.

And, an individual LED bulb is only designed to replace a 40 watt bulb. That’s just not bright enough for most people’s general use. They need to be used in arrays, or groups to increase illumination.

LEDs are expensive: An average LED bulb can cost around $40, and the light it gives off is only equal to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. But, it uses about 80 per cent less electricity, so that saves money. So, depending on how long the light is in use each day, your payback on the cost of switching to LED might be only . . . a couple of years.

Most people have a hard time wrapping their mind around the idea that a light bulb might take that long to pay back. I know I do. But, like with most new technology-as LED lights become more available, the prices will drop.

Another problem with the life span of LEDs is their use as a replacement bulb. Fixtures designed for incandescent lamps are often heat traps — and that heat affects LEDs and CFLs. LEDs are heat sensitive — their lifespan is reduced dramatically if they are exposed to excess heat in inappropriate applications. So, if they go into a fixture or socket that doesn’t allow heat to dissipate, there goes your long-term payback. Ideally, you’ll have an LED lighting system with fixtures properly designed to give you the full lifespan of the LED bulb.

There is no question that LEDs are currently more expensive than CFLs or incandescent bulbs. And, since it’s new technology they may be hard to find everywhere.

Philips Introduces Industry-changing Solutionsging Lighting Transformations, Solutions

Royal Philips Electronics extended further its leadership position in the lighting industry by outlining its holistic, energy-efficient and high-quality approach to lighting in response to dramatic shifts and market transformation that the industry is facing, largely fueled by the advent of solid state lighting (SSL).

Rudy Provoost, CEO of Philips Lighting said Philips today is at the epicenter of the solid state lighting revolution by enabling people to experience light in a whole new way by providing total systems to control light, manage energy consumption, provide functional and decorative environments and to enhance safety.

The European-based company, which had its beginnings in 1891 when Dutch mechanical engineer Gerard Philips started the production of carbon-filament lamps in a former buckskin factory in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, is shifting away from a “bulb” and “fixture” heritage to an integrated lighting solutions company.

“We are managing the move from components and bulbs to solutions and applications,” says Provoost.

At Lightfair International 2009, the world’s biggest trade show for the lighting industry held in New York City recently, Philips introduced a wide range of new technologies, products and services addressing both current and new uses of light. Ranging from components, electronics and fixtures to complete solid-state lighting systems with advanced controls, these latest introductions showcase the company’s vastly expanded portfolio, the breadth of which is unique to the lighting industry.

“As the lighting industry evolves, Provoost said, we seek to create the right balance between delivering energy efficient solutions, enhancing economic prosperity, and protecting environmental health and social equity.”

LIGHTING LANDSCAPE

Philips sees three major mega trends that will affect the lighting industry in the years to come and shape the company’s future in particular and the industry in general.

According to Mr. Provoost, the first important industry shift is the shift from incandescent lamp to energy-efficient light sources.

He said the current convergence of crisis-economic and financial slowdown, climate change and continued volatility of food and energy prices are creating a greater demand for energy saving lighting. As a result, the market for innovative, efficient and sustainable lighting solutions will continue to grow.

Secondly, is the move from traditional vacuum-based technologies to solid state lighting technology.

Provoost believes solid-state or LED (light emitting diodes) lighting is the most significant development in lighting since the invention of electric light almost a century ago. Offering unprecedented freedom in terms of colors, dynamics, miniaturization, architectural integration and energy efficiency, solid-state lighting is opening up exciting new possibilities.

Thirdly is the transition is from the bulb and components as the point of value creation in the lighting industry to applications solutions.

According to Philips, lighting expertise based on end-user insight is integrated into the application, system or solution. Increasingly, these applications and solutions will include controls, and so a key differentiator in the future will be the innovative strength to create systems and solutions that are truly customer-centric.

SSL IS THE WAY TO GO

Mr. Provoost believes that LEDs will shape the future of lighting, adding that switching from older incandescent and mercury vapour lamps to LED or solid state lighting products can reduce energy consumption by 10 percent. “With additional improvements such as sensors and lighting controls, the total savings could go up to 30 per cent annually,” he said.

He explained that in high energy consumption economies such as the United States, the adoption of new lighting technologies could help save US$18 billion every year and could eliminate over 158 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

“LEDs are transforming the nature of lighting – how and where, artificial light is used to enhance the human experience,” Provoost said.

He added that despite the market for global LED lighting still is relatively small today, accounting for US$4 billion in revenue, it is expected to grow to US$30 billion in the next 15 years.

In Asia-Pacific, Provoost said cost is still the current top prohibitive factor for LED technology adoption. However, to he said that if they can are able to bring the return on investment to below two years, then perhaps the market pick up will be much more faster.

“Since cost is admittedly still the current top prohibitive factor for LED technology adoption, we are working on ways like talking to governments to make it more affordable to consumers, for example, through subsidy methods,” Provoost said.

To boost adoption of LED technology among Asia-Pacific countries, he said Philips is working closely with different governments in the region on awareness programs and helping them come out with proper legislation.

According to Provoost, LEDs demand in the region primarily will come from the business and professional markets first. “The main growth drivers will come from the business-to-business market, followed by the consumer segment,” he said.

To date Philips’ LED solutions for the business market are already available in the region while its consumer LED products are expected to be available in six to 18 months.

LEDs, Provoost said, are shaping the future of lighting, and Philips is in a good position to capitalise on that.

Over the past years, he said Philips have strengthened its LED technology portfolio through a number of acquisitions such as Color Kinetics, Lumileds and the Genlyte Group.”

To do this, Mr. Provoost said, they need to leverage advanced technologies such as SSL to enhance people’s wellbeing and improve their experience of light, wherever they might be. “At home, in the office, on the road, in the car, shopping, wherever — the power and reach of SSL gives us the ability to do both.”

However, he added that in order to be successful in providing these solutions, Philips needs to work closely together with its channel partners and lighting professionals – such as architects, lighting designers and installers, etc.

NEW PRODUCTS, SOLUTIONS

Mr. Provoost explained that Philips is bringing together the expanded portfolio of businesses within the company’s Lighting sector, to offer complete and integrated solutions to vertical market segments, ranging from outdoor applications to hospitality, entertainment, and other indoor environments.

At Lightfair’s vast trade floor show at the Javits Convention Center, Philips showcased its powerful range of lighting solutions. Highlights include:

- Energy Services: A new comprehensive lighting audit and upgrade program in conjunction with strategic partners. This program guarantees economic payback, reduced carbon footprint and increased light quality for today’s overwhelmingly inefficient buildings.

- Professional Solid-State Lighting: Highly-efficient LED luminaires for wide-ranging interior and exterior uses – leveraging the company’s expanded in-house technology, expertise and intellectual property across all system layers.

- Residential Solid-State Lighting: An advance preview of a forthcoming 600-lumen A-shape LED bulb that will effectively replace inefficient 40-watt incandescent alternatives.

- Components: The industry’s first power LED that offers specific lumens per watt efficacy, helping manufacturers develop energy-saving luminaires. The new high-performing modules have also been launched for downlight luminaires.

- Professional Lamps: Advanced, higher-efficiency conventional lamps for outdoor, commercial, retail, and industrial use, including fluorescent and ceramic metal halide technology, which easily replace existing sources to deliver industry low wattage and significant cost savings.

- Electronics: Optimized ballasts and LED drivers that provide enhanced energy efficiency and promote sustainability in integrated lighting systems, used in a range of outdoor, retail, sign, commercial and emergency applications.

In his speech, Mr. Provoost also called upon the industry to work together on the adoption of standards for energy efficiency, along with open and collaborative innovation: “We call upon the lighting industry’s stakeholders to seize the tremendous opportunity to embrace the changes being brought about by a combination of government legislation and economic stimulus to build a sustainable future.”

Provoost said the global lighting industry is in a state of great transition. “Economic and environmental concerns are driving all of us to make the move from incandescent lamps to cleaner, more energy-efficient solutions as quickly as we can.”

The Philips executive believes the solid state lighting revolution is happening at the right time. “What’s particularly exciting is that LEDs and OLEDs offer the possibility to create new lighting designs and experiences that weren’t achievable in the past. With these new concepts Philips is adding a whole new dimension to lighting and the way it can enhance people’s lives.”

GOING GREEN

Around the world, people are increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change and rising energy costs. In many countries a substantial body of “green” legislation is imminent, if not already in place – much of which has a direct impact on the future of lighting. Understanding these imperatives, Philips is addressing these challenges as a tremendous opportunity to help shape the future of lighting on a global scale.

“Lighting is no longer a mere utility,” Provoost said. “It has been shown to affect the way we live, work and feel.”

He pointed out that it’s a considerable drain on our energy resources, accounting for 22% of electricity use in America.

“In today’s economic climate, it’s imperative that we assemble the right technologies and services for our customers to create experiences, inspire new applications, and mitigate strain on energy resources.”

Philips said lighting accounts for 19% of global energy consumption, but by implementing innovative lighting solutions, this can realistically reduce the energy consumption of today’s installed base by at least 40% (and even up to 70% in offices), while also improving the quality of the light.

“We can play a significant role in encouraging and enabling the switch to energy-efficient lighting and help combat climate change,” Provoost said.

Choosing Compact Florescent Light Bulbs

By changing your light bulbs you’ll save money, reduce pollution, improve lighting and feel good about your environmental decisions.

Some home improvements aren’t as noticeable as others but they can still be an important step in creating just the right environment for your life. Changing the lighting in your home can not only affect the mood and environment, it can also save you money and improve your green rating. In fact, changing the lighting in your home can be as simple as changing your light bulbs.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are becoming more available and more reasonably priced, and will save energy in your home and will eventually cut your energy bills. On average CFL bulbs use about 75% less energy than incandescent lights, which means less pollution is generated and your realized savings can be somewhere between $36 and $59 throughout the life of the bulb. CFLs are also estimated to have a lifespan that is somewhere between 8 and 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Compact fluorescents also light your home in a more radiant way that is a bit confusing at first. The wattage of a CFL is much lower than that of an incandescent so you can use a much smaller wattage bulb to get the same amount of light or you can boost the light level in your home by using a higher CFL bulb.

There are some downsides to compact fluorescent bulbs; they contain about 5 milligrams of mercury. In theory CFLs are a more environmentally friendly solution to home lighting as they use less energy and create less pollution, but if not disposed of properly the mercury can cause some environmental problems. Keep in mind that if the bulbs are used appropriately there is no danger to using them at all, it’s just in the disposal that there can be a problem. To find out what your local hazardous material refuse rules are, contact your local waste management office or check online at www.earth911.org to find regulations related to your zip code.

Some companies, such as IKEA, are involved in a take back program and you can return your old bulbs to their stores and they’ll properly handle your waste. Other retailers are joining this program so if you aren’t lucky enough to have an IKEA nearby you might have another store that will accept your trashed bulbs. Lucky for Nanjing people, IKEA, where you could find many kinds of energy saving lights, came last year.

LED – The Best Light Bulb for Your Money

Are you still using incandescent light bulbs? As we all know that home lighting accounts for about 20% of the average home’s electricity bill. So switching to compact flourescent or LED bulbs will cut down your electricity bill.

Here are the pros and cons for LED:

LEDs
LED technology allows for a large amount of light to come from a small source of energy without giving off much heat.

Costs: At up to $100 per bulb (although many cost between $20 and $30), converting an entire home to an all-LED lighting system could wind up costing thousands of dollars upfront.

But, like computers and iPhones, LED bulbs will likely get cheaper over time, likely making them a more convincing lighting option.

“The cost of bright LEDs has dropped 95% in the last 10 years and 30% in the last three,” says William Greenhoe, president of PiSAT, a company that makes solar powered LED lanterns and flashlights.

Pros: Each LED light bulb, which uses direct and powerful light emitting diode technology, can last up to 50,000 hours.  That’s five and a half hours a day every day for 25 years.

Also, LED bulbs don’t get as hot as incandescent bulbs, which could make them more safe and efficient for commercial use, especially if they’re left on 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Cons: Converting your home lighting system to all LEDs may not be a good idea if you live in a very cold climate, says Cunningham, citing reports that Canadian consumers switching to LED bulbs eventually had greater demands on their home heating systems due to low heat output from LED bulbs.

And though some companies guarantee their bulbs for life, many LED bulbs are only guaranteed for a year or a few years.

“LEDS are just coming onto the market, so there’s not a lot of regulation right now or information on whether or not they’re going to fulfill their 50,000 hour promises,” says Cunningham.

A Modular LED Light System – Branch Light

Branch Light it’s a modular interior LED light system. It features a lightweight black ceramic body, with no wirings, no threads and no holes, just a plain faceted surface inspired on the Vertex. Both interconnections, LEDs and wall plus roof supports, are made, using the power of neodymium magnets.

Création du designer portugais Bruno Fosi, le concept de lustre à LEDs modulable “Branch Light” mélange art nouveau, inspirations origamiques et technologies modernes pour un résultat plutôt réussit. Découverte en images dans la suite !