LED Evolution Could Replace Light Bulbs

[On the Road]

--snip

LED lamps were unthinkable until the technology cleared a major hurdle just a dozen years ago. Since then, LEDs have evolved quickly and are being adapted for many uses, including pool illumination and reading lights, as evidenced at the Lightfair trade show here this week.

More widespread use could lead to big energy savings and a minor revolution in the way we think about lighting.

--snip

They haven't been used as sources of illumination because they, for a long time, could not produce white light — only red, green and yellow. Nichia Chemical of Japan changed that in 1993 when it started producing blue LEDs, which combined with red and green produce white light, opening up a whole new field for the technology.

But development is brisk, and the Department of Energy has estimated that LED lighting could cut national energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent by 2025. The total savings on U.S. household electric bills until then would be $125 billion. LEDs have other advantages that are propelling them into niche uses, despite their upfront cost. Current white LEDs will last up to 50,000 hours, about 50 times as long as a 60-watt bulb. That's almost six years if they're on constantly.


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050415/ap_on_hi_te/led_lighting

[wtmusic]

1. I have doubts

that LED bulbs would be as aesthetically pleasing as incandescent ones, and that could be a major hurdle.

Can't stand the flourescent-replacement type.

[On the Road]

3. I Haven't Seen Them

although if they're working with red, green, yellow, and blue, you would think they could mix whatever color they wanted. It would be nice not to change a bulb for six years.

[politicat]

8. I have several LED reading lights.

The light is not like a fluorescent at all. It's far more like an incandescent halogen. They don't distort color as badly as fluorescent does, either. I really like mine, and am waiting anxiously for bulb replacements to come down to a point where I can replace the compact fluorescents with them.

[Tux]

2. Sweet

A gentler light than the harsh light bulb. When do they come out?

[Dogmudgeon]

4. They're already here ... but ...

... they're pretty expensive. However, since they last so long, that price can be distributed over a long time.

But they're also currently slightly less efficient than fluorescent bulbs/tubes. A few more years of innovation, though, and I think they will become common and replace most residential and business lighting.

--p!

[Wilms]

5. They're increasingly used for traffic signaling. n/t

[Viking12]

6. I have many LED products in my cache of outdoor gear

The battery life on flashlights & headlamps easily offsets any added initial expense. The added battery life also provides a nice piece of mind in the field. I'd love to see an effective use of the technology in home products.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. Burning Man attendees have known this for years

Witness the Tensor:

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?image=11724&results=17077,17661,16871,16302,11743,11724,11722&ord=6/7&skip=0&q_photog=&q_category=&q_keyword=tensor&q_year=

We also know about this, which is flexible and can be powered off simple 9 volt batteries:

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?image=17616&results=20680,20647,19562,19118,18240,18099,18073,17933,17616,17507,16981,5943,14561,16029,16024,16023,16020,15837,15582,15283&ord=9/69&skip=0&q_photog=&q_category=&q_keyword=el%20wire&q_year=

[Ian David]

9. I desperately want these in ceiling fans!!

Do you know how much trouble I have had with ceiling fans that have lights built into them?