150/20/1 Lighting. Man, I love this stuff.
IEE, from UC Santa Barbara, is at it again with another brilliant – literally – energy efficiency solution. In my view, this breakthrough represents history-making technology. OK, maybe I’m a bit zealous, but seriously, this is a big deal. They’ve come up with a lighting source LED (I don’t dare call it a light “bulb”) that produces 150 watts of light at 20 times the efficiency of an incandescent light bulb, for one dollar. Even if you compare it with “compact” fluorescent lighting sources, which are only 25% more efficient than incandescent, you are still talking about a huge efficiency improvement. Just as importantly, this breakthrough at this price means they have reached commercial viability.
I’m really excited about this invention, for two main reasons. First, we must save energy, and we, as a nation, use a lot of lighting. This technology, when it is mass-produced and replaces existing lighting, represents a huge potential energy savings. IEE cites a potential $115 billion saved by 2025 in the US alone, and 133 new power plants that we won’t need to build. Secondly, I hate fluorescent lighting, no matter what the form. I mean it. It is a dangerous pollution source when disposed of, because of the toxic materials – mercury, specifically – lining the bulbs. It is a health hazard when bulbs break because of the toxic nature of these materials, mercury, of course. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23694819/). Plus, it is widely held, if not unequivocally proven, to have negative effects on the health of people who live and work in exclusively fluorescent-lit environments (http://www.daylighting.com/hazards.asp). Even if you discount this, you can’t get around the dangers of mercury poisoning both individuals and environment from broken and improperly disposed bulbs.
So, thanks, IEE. Your LED’s an energy efficient lighting technology that I can really get behind. Let me know when you line up a manufacturer, and when and where I can start buying these things. (or if you want help marketing them – just show me where to sign up!)
