Posted on 01/10/2008 3:14:22 PM PST by blam
Brighter LED Lights Could Replace Household Light Bulbs Within Three Years
ScienceDaily (Jan. 10, 2008) Researchers are developing new technology that could replace the household light-bulb within three years.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), already used in electrical equipment such as computers and mobile phones, are several times more energy efficient than standard light-bulbs. However, because of their structure and material, much of the light in standard LEDs becomes trapped, reducing the brightness of the light and making them unsuitable as the main lighting source in the home.
Now researchers believe they have found a way of introducing a new generation of LEDs into households that are brighter and use even less power than standard energy efficient light-bulbs.
Dr Faiz Rahman, the researcher leading the project at the University of Glasgow, said: By making microscopic holes on the surface of the LEDs it is possible to extract more light, thus increasing the brightness of the lights without increasing the energy consumption. As yet, LEDs have not been introduced as the standard lighting in homes because the process of making the holes is very time consuming and expensive. However, by using world-class facilities at the University of Glasgow we believe we have found a way of imprinting the holes into billions of LEDs at a far greater speed, but at a much lower cost.
LEDs not only use less power than current energy efficient light-bulbs but they are much smaller and can last years without needing to be replaced. This means the days of the humble light-bulb could soon be over.
The team of researchers use a technique called nano-imprint lithography to directly imprint the holes, imperceptible to the human eye, onto the LEDs allowing more of the light to escape.
The project is being developed in conjunction with the Institute of Photonics, University of Strathclyde, Mesophotonics Ltd and Sharp Laboratories of Europe, as part of the BERR Technology Programme.
Adapted from materials provided by University of Glasgow.
Anything is better than those mercury-filled seizure-causing light bulbs that liberals are pushing.
Then I will gladly pay the higher price for them vs those spiral crap lightbulbs.
Light bulbs are so old school. Has there been a significant change in them in the last 60 years or so?
Just so long as they aren’t BLUE!
I can't even fathom the amount of electric power this could probably will save.
Already I'm seeing LED traffic control signs, tail-lights, etc.
“Yes” on all three counts.
Looks like a bright idea......
Bada-bing.....
They’re great! They live forever, draw way less power than flourescent, can be made to mimic incandescent color, and can work with dimmers.
But they cost a mint.
$22 for a bulb.
They did a special on HGTV with a house that had completely over decorated with LED Christmas lights. Thousands of them, only raised the power bill $30.
I looked at them for my house, but right now they are PRICEY and best used for task lighting. I didn’t see anything that would replace a 60w lightbulb yet.
Or that could just be me not understanding what all the technical stuff meant. :-)
Actually, not that much electricity will be saved. The big power users in your house are the water heater, your electric central heat (even if it’s a heat pump), the electric clothes dryer, and the refrigerator. When they improve the efficiency of these things, then we’ll really save some juice.
Cost is dropping fairly quickly. Would probably drop even faster if the govt didn't MANDATE a replacement for incandescents, so that competition drove prices down.
We had 1000 LED lights for Christmas and they only draw 30 watts.
What do they look like in screw in type bulbs?
They are expensive initially but their lifetimes are measured in years. I’ve heard as much as 10-15 years. How many regular light bulbs would you have bought in that time? And, as the technology develops, it will get cheaper.
are now using these brighter LED ones:
You might be thinking about the ‘temperature’ of the color. ‘Cooler’ light has a blue hue. I like those lights.
They meet your criteria. Unfortunately, they are currently expensive. However, price is dropping quickly.
Solved.
No more fretting over trivial crap like light bulbs.
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