$20 LED "bulb" breakthrough ??

Bridgelux had a nice write-up yesterday in Green Venture Beat. The article entitled "Light bulbs are so over --- Bridgelux brings LED lights down to $20" leads us to believe that high performing, affordable LED general illumination light has arrived.

Unfortunately, the article fails to to mention that the $20 "light" is not actually a bulb.  It is only the LED "module" - that will require one of 15 approved power supplies -  that need to fit into one of the approved fixtures that will come eventually from one of 200 fixture manufacturers -  primarily targeting retail and commercial applications.

The idea that you can swap out a defective LED is novel.   But if a benefit of LED lights is that they last 30,000 - 50,000 hours  (using DOE/EPA usage standards that  translates into 45 years)  then one would wonder why you would need to replace an LED module?

http://green.venturebeat.com/2010/03/24/light-bulbs-are-so-over-bridgelux-brings-led-lights-down-to-20/

Consumer Reports - drawbacks with LED light bulbs

From Consumer Reports -

http://www.consumersearch.com/light-bulbs/led-light-bulbs

"Reviews say that in the long run, the extremely high cost ($50 to $100) of big screw-in LED light bulbs will pay for itself in savings on electricity. However, we were unable to find any compelling evidence that the rated life holds true for every bulb."

"Owners say they're dimmer than expected, even when used in a light fixture that takes advantage of their directional beam (usually a 60- to 100-degree angle). Quite a few owners find the light too cold and bluish. A few LED light bulbs are designed to cast light in all directions, to be used in a regular table lamp, but they don't put out enough lumens to make this realistic except for dim "atmospheric" background lighting."

"The buzz on dimmable CFL light bulb"

More and more consumers will discover that CFL bulbs are not going to be a viable solution in applications where dimming is desired.

Even CFL bulbs that are "dimmable" are:

1. Only partial dimmable - usually they cut off once they reach 70-80% dimmed.
2. They "cool" instead of "warm" when dimmed.  This means their color temperature moves to a blue/white light versus the orange/red shifts that we get (and expect) from an incandescent bulb
3. Only dim once fully up to brightness - often taking up to two minutes.  
4. Will not come back on at the pre-dimmed level once they have been turned off.  You have to start the entire process -  turn on, warm up, dim down process - each time you use the bulb
5. Require that all bulbs on the circuit be identical (dimmable, same wattage, same manufacturer).
6. Often cause the dimmer to buzz

From the Seattle Times:

"We have looked at around 20 different brands and although some of them get close, the science is not yet there," McLellan said. "We do hear of some success, however, usually with high-quality, brand-name bulbs and dimmer switches." Sometimes it's a matter of finding which brand of bulbs works with specific dimmer switches. You may need to change the dimmer."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2008909666_zhom23fixit.html

EPA CFL Cleanup Guidelines

  From the US Environmental Protection Agency

Cleanup and Disposal Guidelines for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

•       Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

•       Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

•       Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

•       Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

•       Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

•       Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.

•       Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

•       Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

•       Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

•       If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.

•       Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

•       If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.

•       If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

•       Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.

•       Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

•       The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming. Leave the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.