$50 LED Bulb

[easysurfer]

In honor of the new $50 light bulb,

The $50 light bulb you.


I'm gonna go to Home Depot and buy an LED bulb. Not at $50, but at $10.

I see the future..."to my nephew so-and-so, instead of my baseball card collection, I hearby leave my investment of LED light bulbs"

 

[Texas Proud]

$50 light bulb

A short video of the $50 light bulb.... an LED version...


The $50 light bulb you


They say they will last 30 years.... heck, in my old house I had incandescent bulbs for 25 years... and I did not put them in!!!

I still see it as a waste of money for light that have little use, such as closet and garage lights...

I also am not sure of their claims.... I just had to replace a CF in my kitchen... it lasted 4 months... it was burned out for a few days before I got to it... and the base was HOT... so I think it was using electricity even without light...

I also hate how long it takes CF to get to full light... I replaced all 4 pot lights with dimmable ones upstairs... when you turn them on, they only put out 50% or less of their light... the place looks very dark for a few minutes... they also do not dim well....


Hope the price comes down on these soon.... and they do what they claim...

 

[GrayHare]

Mass production will bring down the cost of LED bulbs. CFLs are only a temporary stepping stone to LEDs.

 

[travelover]

Oh great, now prepare for the one note pianos to show up.

 

[Sarah in SC]

I remember when LEDs first started getting wider distribution for boat lights. It was an amazing breakthrough, especially because power is such a scarce commodity aboard cruisers. Being able to use navigation and anchor lights that were bright and consumed less of the precious battery power was a huge game-changer.
I'm excited about the use of LEDs in other applications, especially for reducing my electricity bill further than just with CFLs.

 

[Major Tom]

Once utility company rebates bring the cost down to the low 20's, people will start using them for hard-to-reach locations, and in applications where energy saving is more important than the cost of the bulb (people who are powered by solar etc.)

Then in a few years when the price has come down even more, we'll all be using them. I love the idea of LED bulbs.

 

[ERD50]

Oh great, now prepare for the one note pianos to show up.

As long as the band keeps striking up the one-note subsidy symphony, what can we do but join in with our note?

(pitch pipe) hmmmmmmm - hmmmmmmmm - hmmmmm OK, I think I'm in tune now...

LEDs make a lot of sense. There is no need for subsidies. The first adopters will be places that need some combination of lights on 24/7, are in hard to reach (expensive labor costs to replace), and/or in cooled spaces (extra savings with less heat generated).

Or, as others have noted, in portable or other off-grid locations where energy savings create high cost savings.

Those early adopters will expand as the price drops, and producers will keep looking for ways to lower the costs to capture a larger market (like every other successful product). Or if a better technology comes along, that can compete - no need for the Govt to pick favorite technologies - how many engineers are there on Capital Hill?

If these things really last 30 years, as long as prices are dropping faster than 1/30th/year, it might make sense to wait (unless the KWhr savings offsets that).

-ERD50

 

[eridanus]

I plan to buy one and I'll gladly use the utility subsidy. Sometimes subsidies make sense to overcome inertia (or maybe it's momentum?).

 

[ERD50]

I plan to buy one and I'll gladly use the utility subsidy. Sometimes subsidies make sense to overcome inertia (or maybe it's momentum?).

But why should any valuable product have any problem overcoming inertia on it's own?

People bought microwave ovens, Walkmans, iPods, laptops, and flat-screen TVs, etc. The fact that people liked them better than the alternatives was all it took to overcome inertia. What makes a light source any different?

-ERD50

 

[eridanus]

But why should any valuable product have any problem overcoming inertia on it's own?

People bought microwave ovens, Walkmans, iPods, laptops, and flat-screen TVs, etc. The fact that people liked them better than the alternatives was all it took to overcome inertia. What makes a light source any different?

-ERD50

1) Because, contrary to the Chicago School, people aren't economic automatons.
2) There are externalities hidden in the cost of higher energy devices (especially ones that give the appearance of the same work as the lower energy device). Some people have trouble with this term so I've provided the wiki definition,

Externality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[W2R]

If I ever buy a $50 lightbulb, it won't be for environmental reasons, or LBYM reasons. It will be because I love the quality of light it produces.

Since I haven't seen the light from one yet, I don't know what the light is like that they produce.

A nice bright light of a pleasing quality seems like a much bigger deal to me now that I am in my 60's, than it did in earlier years. Vision dims a little bit with age for some of us, and a bright light can help.

 

[travelover]

Oh great, now prepare for the one note pianos to show up.

Didn't take long.

 

[REWahoo]

if i ever buy a $50 lightbulb, it won't be for environmental reasons, or lbym reasons. It will be because[-] i love the quality of light it produces[/-] inflation has eaten our lunch!

fify.

 

[ERD50]

If I ever buy a $50 lightbulb, it won't be for environmental reasons, or LBYM reasons. It will be because I love the quality of light it produces.

Since I haven't seen the light from one yet, I don't know what the light is like that they produce.

A nice bright light of a pleasing quality seems like a much bigger deal to me now that I am in my 60's, than it did in earlier years. Vision dims a little bit with age for some of us, and a bright light can help.

I'm also interested in seeing what these would look like in my home, I agree that is very important (and somewhat subjective). I'm actually OK with CFLs in a lot of places, I use them in quite a few places where the lights are on a fair amount (and my porch lights), but I have a lot of dimmers, so that's limited.

1) Because, contrary to the Chicago School, people aren't economic automatons.

I think my other examples counter that. And if they don't make the 'optimal' decisions, do we really think some govt group can make a better decision for them? Those end up being one-size-fits-all decisions, and often are not optimal. edit/add: as an example, the govt had decided that I should put a CFL in my attic in place of a 100W bulb. That light is on 10 minutes annually. Their decision is not optimal, economically or environmentally.

2) There are externalities hidden in the cost of higher energy devices (especially ones that give the appearance of the same work as the lower energy device)

Fair enough. IMO, the best way to deal with that is to price electricity to include those costs (I assume you mean pollution). Then an unlimited number of market based solutions will arise to deal with those costs, rather than just a select few 'approved' solutions.

-ERD50

 

[eridanus]

I think my other examples counter that.

Your examples provide a better experience. Why get a Walkman? Portable music. Microwave? You can heat a frozen meal in 3 minutes instead of 15. iPod? You can carry ALL of your music with you. Etc. A light bulb provides light.

edit/add: as an example, the govt had decided that I should put a CFL in my attic in place of a 100W bulb. That light is on 10 minutes annually. Their decision is not optimal, economically or environmentally.

Yep. However, to your point below, a tax on coal electricity ain't gonna happen. Banning 100 watt bulbs satisfies the objective to get a significant portion of the 100 watt light bulb users to stop using them in their lamps. Lighting an attic, as you mentioned, is a minimal use of energy. Switching out a living room lamp (or 3) with a CFL outweighs any loss with an attic bulb switch.

Fair enough. IMO, the best way to deal with that is to price electricity to include those costs (I assume you mean pollution). Then an unlimited number of market based solutions will arise to deal with those costs, rather than just a select few 'approved' solutions.

Still waiting for the free market to fix this inefficiency....

 

[easysurfer]

I love to LED light bulbs that I own.

As of today, I have 9 that are like these:

A19 8.6-Watt (40W) LED Light Bulb-ECS 19 WW 120 at The Home Depot

These cast directionally, so I use them for task lights and ceiling fan lights.

I also have four that are these:

Amazon.com: GE 62180 9-Watt LED Soft White A19 Light Bulb: Home Improvement

These bulbs aren't directional and I used them in the vanity light of the bathroom.

I like the fact of having instant-on, no flicker, no time needed to heat up to get bright, no mercury used, and shouldn't burn out. Oh yeah, they are low in wattage too (only about 8 to 9 watts a bulb).

 

[GrayHare]

Engineers have been working on LED brightness and color issues for decades. It's been difficult to match the color of light emitted by incandescent bulbs (which had themselves replicated the color of fire). One technique is to project the LED's bluish light through a yellow filter; it's a low-tech solution that IMO works fairly well.

 

[GrayHare]

The use of LEDs in automobile tail lights has puzzled me. The incandescents are cheap, light weight, and when operating on a car's DC last for decades. I'd expect any energy savings from LEDs in a car to be offset by their heavier weight and, after an accident, greater replacement cost.

 

[M Paquette]

The use of LEDs in automobile tail lights has puzzled me. The incandescents are cheap, light weight, and when operating on a car's DC last for decades. I'd expect any energy savings from LEDs in a car to be offset by their heavier weight and, after an accident, greater replacement cost.

They're chosen for the appearance, rather than energy savings. LED strips can be fabricated to produce almost any shape or pattern desired, and fitted into spaces where a conventional lamp would be difficult or impractical.

I've selected some LED lighting in the home for the same reason, installing narrow strips tucked into milled pieced of cabinetry to produce a low temperature, low power, and safely low voltage very even light source where conventional bulbs wouldn't be safe or practical.

 

[Texas Proud]

I am going to be one of those hard to convert people.... I do use CFLs around the house, but think they are a poor substitute when it comes to light output and color for the life of the bulb.... and real cost savings...

You lose any cost savings when...

A> you break the bulb
B> it burns out LONG before it says it will (happens to me very often, probably half of the bulbs I have bought have not lasted as long as a regular bulb)...


I hope the LEDs are not as bad....

 

[ERD50]

Your examples provide a better experience. Why get a Walkman? Portable music. Microwave? You can heat a frozen meal in 3 minutes instead of 15. iPod? You can carry ALL of your music with you. Etc. A light bulb provides light.

And getting that light with a lower electricity bill, and rarely having a bulb burn out are market advantages too. Many people look at mpg when they shop for a car. Lower fuel costs per mile, lower electricity costs per lumen - same thing.

Yep. However, to your point below, a tax on coal electricity ain't gonna happen. Banning 100 watt bulbs satisfies the objective to get a significant portion of the 100 watt light bulb users to stop using them in their lamps. Lighting an attic, as you mentioned, is a minimal use of energy. Switching out a living room lamp (or 3) with a CFL outweighs any loss with an attic bulb switch.


Still waiting for the free market to fix this inefficiency....

To your last point - no, the free market isn't likely to react to those costs as long as they are external. Which takes us back to the tax on pollution, which would internalize the costs, which would lead to market solutions.

So the govt won't get serious and put a tax on pollution, but they will dribble around the edges frivolously with non-solutions and tell us what kind of bulb to use (while my neighbor runs their AC down to 68F instead of opening their windows on a warm, not hot/humid day). I just don't appreciate them not being serious about it while they limit my choices. There are places where I want a 100W bulb, don't want anything else, and I'm not going to destroy the world using 10 minutes per year. I'm in the lowest quintile of electricity users in my neighborhood, but the govt doesn't think I know enough to choose a light bulb. I just resent being treated like I'm stupid.

-ERD50

 

[Brett_Cameron]

I bought one of those $39 Phillips LED light bulbs to replace a recessed indoor floodlight. I have CFLs in the other 5 spots. I had to go through about 10-12 CFLs to get the original 6 to last more than a few months.

I like the brightness, color and instant-on functioning of the expensive LED bulb. The package claimed it would last 23 years. I will try to remember to let you know how it works out.

 

[Sarah in SC]

As of today, I have 9 that are like these:

A19 8.6-Watt (40W) LED Light Bulb-ECS 19 WW 120 at The Home Depot

These cast directionally, so I use them for task lights and ceiling fan lights.

I like the fact of having instant-on, no flicker, no time needed to heat up to get bright, no mercury used, and shouldn't burn out. Oh yeah, they are low in wattage too (only about 8 to 9 watts a bulb).

So these are only $10 each? Wonder why the $50 headline? Seem cool to me, so these are what you'd use in a floor lamp? That seems like a bargain to me!

 

[packrat44]

Since I haven't seen the light, .

I haven't either. I like the idea, but not the price. The CFLs I have used do not seem to last as long as the incandescent bulbs. They also appear to be fire hazards looking at the burned areas where base and glass meet. When LEDs drop in price I will start the conversion.

 

[harley]

I have enough 100 and 75 watt incandescent bulbs to last me 5 or more years based on past usage. Hopefully by then they'll have worked the bugs and the price issues out on whatever ends up replacing them. I hate CFLs, but I've put them in a few places where they don't get used too often and the slow warm up isn't an issue (crawl spaces and attics). Things like garage door opener lights, bathrooms, and anywhere I like to use a dimmer will remain incandescent for the foreseeable future.