Globalization and Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

LED bulbs are already the go-to technology for illuminating cell phones, tablets and TVs. They haven’t become the standard in the lamps and lights in American households, however, largely because they’re so expensive. But as prices drop sharply, the upgrade to LED makes more and more sense. If traditional incandescent bulbs are the tail-finned gas guzzlers of the lighting universe, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are like plug-in electric cars: Better for the environment, but not appealing to many because of the way they look and perform, as well as higher upfront costs.

LED bulbs are already the go-to technology for illuminating cell phones, tablets and TVs. They haven’t become the standard in the lamps and lights in American households, however, largely because they’re so expensive. But as prices drop sharply, the upgrade to LED makes more and more sense. If traditional incandescent bulbs are the tail-finned gas guzzlers of the lighting universe, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are like plug-in electric cars: Better for the environment, but not appealing to many because of the way they look and perform, as well as higher upfront costs.

From today's Washington Post, a good example of the Law of Unintended Consequences:

As the world's top producer of energy-efficient light bulbs and a potentially massive market for them, China is seen as pivotal to greater worldwide acceptance of environmentally-friendly lighting.While also the largest producer of less-efficient incandescent bulbs, China is moving with the times as the classic light bulb, which produces more heat than light, is slowly being switched off.

Most incandescent light bulbs were supposed to be phased out starting Jan. 1. But tucked inside the House's omnibus spending bill, there's a provision barring the Energy Department from enforcing more energy-efficient standards for light bulbs. For those who still want them, there are increasing options for efficient bulbs. Renee Montagne talks to Bill Hamilton, merchandising vice president of electrical at Home Depot, which sells about a third of all light bulbs in the U.S.

By Tate Dwinnell: This is a potential game changer for LED stocks and could also very well mark the bottom in these beaten down green energy stocks. Friday China announced it will begin banning the use of incandescent bulbs beginning in less than a year.

LEDs have a mysterious drop in the light produced called “droop” when a higher current is applied.  That limits the amount of lumens an LED can make thus holding the technology down as a viable replacement for incandescent bulbs for all-purpose commercial and residential lighting.The situation could change now that the cause of LED efficiency droop has been explained.  Researchers at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) led by James Speck and Claude Weisbuch of the Center for Energy Efficient Materials at UCSB, an…

Lighting manufacturers are pushing back against widespread rumors that the federal government is banning incandescent light bulbs. Rush Limbaugh and some Republicans in Congress are calling for the repeal of a 2008 law signed by President Bush that sets tougher standards for light bulbs beginning in 2012. They claim consumers would be forced to use less popular fluorescent bulbs. But bulb manufacturers say that claim is false.