Brighter LED Lights Could Replace Household Light Bulbs 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 at the University of Glasgow believe that, by making microscopic holes on the surface of the LEDs, 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.  . . . more

Comments

[Kirk Tierney]

With LED lights, it is a matter of spectrum quality, not brightness. While they have their uses in some applications, reading by one is like reading something under a street lamp.

Whereas the solar spectrum is broadly inclusive of a wide range of wavelengths, LED's tend to have very spikey peaks in certain key wavelengths. Our visual processes do not like this.

So if there is news of a broad-spectrum LED solution, that's real news.

[Chanranshu Pandya]

While resarch is going on, it appears that it may take quite some time before bringing LEDs to any commercial levels of operation.

[Greg Woulf]

I couldn't disagree with you more Kirk. We went through a hurricane here and my electricity was out for weeks.

The one bright spot, pun intended, was discovering just how good my LED light was.

The LED lighting was soft and comfortable to read by, and my 3 D cell batteries lasted non-stop for two weeks.

The only problem I saw was that it wasn't bright enough to fill the room. Pointing toward a book it was perfect. This article points to the same thing.

If you go to any book store you'll see night reading lights and almost all, if not all of them are LED. I still read by the LED when I go to bed because it's easier on my eyes.

I think you might be thinking of fluorescent.

[Richard]

Here is another article on wide spectrum solid state light sources:
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/MSD-nano-lightsource.html

[Stephen Boulet]

LLF claims to have an LED light fixture with a CRI of 92. They claim that their 12W recessed lighting fixtures use "85% less energy spent per incandescent light, and 50% less than a CFL", and they're dimmable.

I think that their product will soon have a lot of company.

Stephen

[Harvey D]

@Stephen

And a pleasent warm light at that. However, the price per lumens (about 20 cents) is still very exorbitant.

Equivalent CFL sell for about (1 to 2 cents/lumens) with energy saving of about 70% vs 85%. LEDs have a long way to go before they become cost effective.

[Seo Web Guide]

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) is a light that is so soft that give you efficient light and improve the wastage of energy.MORE..... offshore company formation

[Duncan Munday]

We are receiving more and more enquiries from customers about LED lighting and have run many tests on new LED lamps. I believe within 12 months there will be a lamp that is a TRUE 50 watt halogen equivalent and at an affordable price. Customers are put off at the moment thinking LED lighting is just the little diodes you would have seen in a scholl science class 10 years ago, so we are embarking on a marketing campaign to try and educate consumers of the benefits of LED lights particularly the running costs

[Duncan Munday]

LED technology is moving very quickly we are testing new LED products here regularly, for the first company to introduce a true 50 watt halogen equivalent led downlight at a price that is right will make a killing in the market and this will me the end for CFL lamps.

[Ace Lamps]

Very interesting article, LED lighting is the way forward, so its good to see technology making advancements with the LED's

[enrique r. lopez]

LED bulbs are truly an energy saving option, i have a magled 3-d flashlight and a surefire 6p xenon bulb battery is good for an hour (surefire) and my magled last 10 or more hours. led bulbs are on the whitish color while the surefire is more of our standard car headlamp halogen's shade////different applications should be given some thought.

[Martin in Thailand]

Already in March 2007 the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg, Germany was opened, using LED lighting only, a total of more than 160.000 LEDs. Looks beautiful, see some pictures at http://thaihaus.info/hausbau/topic/53

The Chamber of Commerce saves a lot of power, and no more constant changing of broken lightbulb.

Looking at these pictures, and at some real samples on which I got my hands this week, I'd say that LEDs are ready for prime time, now, today!

[Jeff Chan]

The price for LED's is still quite high but we've found that applications with 12-24 hour burn times - you get payback within 1-3 years depending on where you live:
LED Light Bulbs

Scroll down to the bottom to check lifetime costs, payback periods etc. per state.

[Kevin Johnson]

I have found a site that has a number of LED replacement bulbs that offer energy savings. Are the problems with light and broad spectrum still an issue? The bulbs I was looking into are going to replace my CFLs, because I don't like the disposal and mercury issues.

The bulbs I am looking into are at http://www.ledenergysolutions.com/_apps/led_store/product_dets.php?id=16

I thought these looked like a reasonable replacement?

[Mark Techopto]

Hopefully the brighter LED lights come out sooner than 3 years. I use some LED lights around the house but it just isn't enough light, especially during the winter.

[oilfield equipment]

i think they are coming out sooner than that. i would love to have some for my house now.