University of California Irvine - Those light-emitting diodes marketed as safe, environmentally preferable alternatives to traditional light bulbs actually contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially hazardous substances, according to newly published research.
“LEDs are touted as the next generation of lighting. But as we try to find better products that do not deplete energy resources or contribute to global warming, we have to be vigilant about the toxicity hazards of those marketed as replacements,” said Oladele Ogunseitan, chair of UC Irvine’s Department of Population Health & Disease Prevention.
He and fellow scientists at UCI and UC Davis crunched, leached and measured the tiny, multicolored light bulbs sold in Christmas strands; red, yellow and green traffic lights; and automobile headlights and brake lights. Their findings? Low-intensity red lights contained up to eight times the amount of lead allowed under California law, but in general, high-intensity, brighter bulbs had more contaminants than lower ones. White bulbs contained the least lead, but had high levels of nickel.
Lead, arsenic and many additional metals discovered in the bulbs or their related parts have been linked in hundreds of studies to different cancers, neurological damage, kidney disease, hypertension, skin rashes and other illnesses. The copper used in some LEDs also poses an ecological threat to fish, rivers and lakes.
Ogunseitan said that breaking a single light and breathing fumes would not automatically cause cancer, but could be a tipping point on top of chronic exposure to another carcinogen. And – noting that lead tastes sweet – he warned that small children could be harmed if they mistake the bright lights for candy.
He cites LEDs as a perfect example of the need to mandate product replacement testing. The diodes are widely hailed as safer than compact fluorescent bulbs, which contain dangerous mercury. But, he said, they weren’t properly tested for potential environmental health impacts before being marketed as the preferred alternative to inefficient incandescent bulbs, now being phased out under California law. A long-planned state regulation originally set to take effect Jan. 1 would have required advance testing of such replacement products. But it was opposed by industry groups, a less stringent version was substituted, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger placed the law on hold days before he left office.
LED lighting is considered to be the most efficient form of artificial illumination and even beats out the best and most efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. LEDs have been used since the 1960s and 70s and today they are used in everything from streetlights to laptop and television displays to holiday string lights. LEDs have long been the most efficient option and many manufacturers and companies market the LED bulbs as an environmentally friendly option. But a current study from the University of California-Irvine shows that the environmental benefits of LED lighting is offset by the potentially hazardous substances, including arsenic, found in the bulbs. Researchers from University of California-Irvine's School of Social Ecology and Program in Public Health analyzed red, yellow, green, and blue LEDs in low and high intensities to see the composition of each. They chose lights that would commonly be found on the typical Christmas tree lights and then ground up the contents of each bulb in order to analyze the different substances, specifically a wide range of heavy metals.
In the LEDs, the researchers found toxic chemicals including antimony, arsenic, chromium, and lead, as well as numerous other metals. In some cases, the amount of element was well over the regulation limit. In the low intensity red LEDs, researchers found the lead content was over 8 times the regulatory limit and the nickel content was approximately two and a half times over the limit as well.
Under environmental regulations in the State of California, most LEDs would be classified as hazardous waste and if disposed of in a standard landfill could easily leach into soil and groundwater, causing greater problems. Additionally, damaged LEDs could pose health risks to those handling them and having direct contact with the toxic substances. Unlike incandescent light bulbs, which are widely accepted to be an environmental and health hazard, LEDs fall into the area of discrepancy between state and federal regulations. In California, hazardous waste regulations are extremely strict, but federal EPA standards are more lax so many companies only have to abide by the federal minimum. In terms of the federal EPA standards, many of the LEDs in the study would not require any specialized disposal.
The study determined that arsenic, lead, nickel, and copper would have the greatest impact on human and ecological health due to their ability to bioaccumulate. Researchers stated that further research should be conducted by individual developers and manufacturers of LED products in order to produce the safest products possible for both consumers and the environment after their use. Finally, the study emphasized the fact that while LEDs are incredibly efficient, they are not completely environmentally friendly and simply carry different environmental and health risks than their counterparts.
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Vu1 in Talks With U.S. Retail ‘Big Boys’ to Sell Light Bulbs
By Alex Morales - Jan 17, 2011 11:55 PM PT
Vu1 Corp., a lighting-technology developer, is holding talks with two major U.S. retailers to sell its new energy-efficient light bulbs, Chief Executive Officer Philip Styles said in an interview.
The New York-based company has started production at its factory at Olomouc in the Czech Republic, and Styles said he hopes to have arrangements with big U.S. retailers by the middle of the year.
“We’re in discussion with major retailers here in the United States,” the former Sony Corp. executive said yesterday by telephone. “We’re currently in discussions with two and I’m trying to line up a third one. It’s the big boys here in the States,” he said, declining to name the potential customers.
Vu1 is hoping to win a share of the lighting market as countries including the 27 European Union members phase out incandescent bulbs and the U.S. brings in more rigorous efficiency standards in 2012.
The Czech plant is currently manufacturing “small quantities” and the plan is to ramp up to a rate of 6.8 million bulbs a year by year-end, and 30 million bulbs annually within two or three years, Styles said. A product suitable for Europe markets should be available by the end of 2011, he said.
Vu1 is promoting its lighting as cheaper than LEDs and, unlike the more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, doesn’t contain mercury, a poisonous substance.
“We’re pitching our product in between the two main competitors at this moment in time,” Styles said, putting the price of Vu1’s bulb at just below $20 compared with about $40 for an LED and $12 to $13 for a compact fluorescent bulb.
The 19.5-watt bulb is priced at just below $20 compared with about $40 for a similar LED and $12 to $13 for a compact fluorescent bulb, he said.
ARTICLES < PreviousNext > Contents (August 2010) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: LEDs not all they're cracked up to be? (MAGAZINE)Although LED lighting is proving to be useful in many applications, RON DAVIS, a marketing consultant with Vu1 corporation, believes the industry should continue to consider other lighting options.
Many years ago, I was assigned the task of establishing a beachhead of mini-computers in a large Fortune 50 company that had been operating under an “IBM only” buying mandate. I was working for the second largest computer company in the world, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). To set the expectations of the 22-person DEC sales team calling on this account I brought them into the customer’s primary data center. I walked them into a 50,000 square foot “glass house” packed with huge IBM mainframe computers and said “here’s your challenge”. As someone involved with a new lighting technology that is not LED based – I felt the same “challenge” as I walked into this year’s Light Fair. I have commented that the name should have been changed to “LED Fair”. I mentioned on the Vu1 Corporation blog (vu1corp.blogspot.com) that one was hard pressed to find even a CFL at this year’s Light Fair.
This all leads me to suggest that the lighting industry should not be putting all of its “eggs in one basket”. LEDs will likely prove to be a great solution in many applications. They are already showing great promise in automotive, street lights, traffic signals, retail and display applications. Unfortunately, some of the basic characteristics of LEDs may keep them from being the best solution in general illumination lighting. Concerns regarding brightness, spectrum, glare, dissipation, CRI and cost are issues that may not have easy solutions. Recent articles by leading U.S. Department of Energy SSL representatives are confirming that in LED general illumination products are too often over promising and under delivering.
Another consideration often overlooked is the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for LEDs over a reasonable period of time such as 5-6 years. A LED value proposition that is based on 30-50K hours does not hold up when you consider the actual time a homeowner will stay in their current home – 6 years (according to the National Association of Realtors). A light bulb needs to reach breakeven in less than 2 years and start generating measureable savings. It will be a long while before a true direct replacement R30 or A19 LED bulb will come close to offering a compelling 5-6 year TCO. Lastly, the environmentally focused will start to look at the cradle-to-grave environmental cost of LED lighting solutions. When one considers - materials (especially heat sinking), manufacturing processes and the real show stopper - transportation costs (consider the weight of an LED versus a CFL or incandescent) – the LED may end up being a losing proposition.
The CFL industry is currently in a losing battle as they try to down play down their environmental Achilles Heel - the “mercury issue”. If the “small amount of mercury” in the CFL bulbs sold in America over the last 5 years were to end up in landfills potentially gaining exposure to soil and water – it will represent “enough mercury to contaminate every lake, river and stream in North America”. (www.informinc.com). The EPA predicts that – best case – only 25% of CFLs will be recycled. The rest will end up in landfills.
There are several General Illumination energy efficient technologies that should be considered and supported by industry and governments; Halogen Infrared Reflecting (HIR), Photoluminescent Nanofibers (PLNs), induction and of course my favorite, Electron Stimulated Luminescent (ESL).
Vu1 has been working to apply electron physics in a way never before used in general illumination lighting to create a product that essentially duplicates the incandescent light spectrum while being fully dimmable, instant on, trash bin disposable and similar in price and life to a CFL. Vu1 is hoping that industry and governments will want to hedge their bets and not put all their “eggs in one basket”.
By the way, what happened to the “2nd largest computer company in the world” – DEC? They went out of business after 40 years. Why? Because they bet the farm on the mini-computer and refused to acknowledge that there could be a better technology on the way (the personal computer). Their “eggs were all in one basket”.
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This article was published in the July/August 2010 issue of LEDs Magazine. To read the full version of this article, please visit our magazine page, where you can download FREE electronic PDF versions of all issues of LEDs Magazine. You can also request a print copy of LEDs Magazine (available by paid subscription) and sign up for our free weekly email newsletter.
About the AuthorRon Davis is a marketing consultant with Vu1 Corporation.
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GREGORY OWENS, JR. ELECTED TO VU1’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Seattle, WA – July 27, 2010 - Vu1 Corporation (OTCBB: VUOC), a developer and manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient, general illumination lighting technology, today announced that Gregory Owens, Jr., 31, has been elected to its Board of Directors.
Mr. Owens is a Portfolio Manager at SAM Advisors, LLC (SAMA) and also holds the title of Senior Vice President with Smith Asset Management, Inc. (SAMI) in New York City. Mr. Owens has more than a decade of capital markets experience in the securities industry, including tenures with Citi Global Capital Markets and AG Edwards, before joining SAMA and SAMI in 2008.
As a portfolio manager at SAMA, Mr. Owens’ portfolio holdings reflect deep value and special situation investments, typically purchasing publicly traded assets at what the group feels are steep discounts to their ultimate intrinsic value. Mr. Owens attended Syracuse University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
“I am delighted to have Greg join Vu1’s Board at this important stage in the company’s development as we transition from technology development to full scale commercial production,” commented Duncan Troy, Vu1’s Chairman. “We have valued the relationship with SAM Advisors, and now Greg’s deep analytical and capital markets experience will be a great addition to the Board and I look forward to working with him and SAM Advisors, LLC as a trusted partner.”
“My colleagues and I at SAM Advisors have been extremely pleased with the recent activity level at Vu1, and the preliminary order several weeks ago validates our long-term belief in the promise of the Company’s ESL lighting technology,” commented Gregory Owens, Jr. “We have been shareholders for some time and being on the Board allows me to work closely with Duncan and the rest of the Board and the senior management team to ensure the Company capitalizes on its business opportunities, monetizing not only our investment but for every current and future shareholder.”
About Vu1 Corporation
Vu1 Corporation is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy efficient, environmentally-friendly lighting solutions worldwide. Vu1’s ESL™ Technology creates the same light quality as an incandescent bulb but is more energy efficient. There is no use of the neurotoxin Mercury (Hg) in the lighting process and the ESL™ Technology fits neatly into classic light bulb shapes similar to those familiar to consumers everywhere. This eliminates the need to bend the technology into an unusual, twisted spiral shape (CFL) or have costly and heavy heat dissipation designed into the bulb housing (LED). To learn more about Vu1’s technology, please view the video link http://vu1corporation.com/ESLupdate/ or go to: http://www.vu1.com/
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain the necessary funding required for our operations, the future demonstration and commercial availability of our light bulb, timing for submission of our light bulb to certification and certification results, timing for bulb production, manufacturing capability of our facility, future interest of channel partners and distributors, our strategic planning and business development plans, future applications of the technology, the viability, pricing and acceptance of our products in the market. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control, as well as the risks and other factors set forth in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other periodic reports as filed from time to time).
For product enquires please contact info@Vu1.com .
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VU1 ANNOUNCES ALLOWANCE OF FIRST U.S. PATENT FOR ITS UNIQUE ESL™ LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
Superior light quality generated by Vu1’s Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL™) lighting technology is demonstrated in newly released video
Seattle, WA – July [15], 2010 - Vu1 Corporation (OTCBB: VUOC), a developer and manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient, general illumination lighting technology, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for a patent application for its ESL™ lighting technology. U.S. Patent Application Serial No.: 11/969,840 is for the system and apparatus for cathodoluminescent lighting, relating to the method of operation to create light via phosphor and a cathode, a key component of Vu1’s unique Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL™) clean, energy efficient lighting technology.
“The allowance of Vu1’s first patent application, one of 11 pending US and international patent applications that we have already submitted for our ground-breaking technology, is another very important step for Vu1, “ commented R. Gale Sellers, Vu1’s Chief Executive Officer. “With Vu1’s first preliminary order received, its first patent application now allowed, its manufacturing facilities operational and ready to ramp up, the Vu1 team is excited to be moving ever closer to delivering on the promise of its ESL™ technology. While we remain focused on securing additional orders for Vu1’s R30 light bulbs, I believe the biggest achievement will be securing UL Certification for our first product, which we expect to receive this summer, allowing us to transition to full commercialization of Vu1’s ESL technology.”
Video demonstrating Vu1’s Superior ESLTM Lighting Technology
Vu1’s ESL proprietary technology produces light virtually identical in quality to traditional incandescent light bulbs, as well as being highly energy-efficient. By contrast, the majority of currently available ‘green’ lighting technologies, such as CFL and LED, do not produce the same quality of light and can make skin tones look green and bluish respectively.
To demonstrate this superior light quality, a new video is now available for viewing on Vu1’s website. The video can be viewed at: [http://www.Vu1.com/ESLupdate]
About Vu1 Corporation
Vu1 Corporation is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy efficient, environmentally-friendly lighting solutions worldwide. Vu1’s ESL™ Technology creates the same light quality as an incandescent bulb but is more energy efficient. There is no use of the neurotoxin Mercury (Hg) in the lighting process and the ESL™ Technology fits neatly into classic light bulb shapes similar to those familiar to consumers everywhere. This eliminates the need to bend the technology into an unusual, twisted spiral shape (CFL) or have costly and heavy heat dissipation designed into the bulb housing (LED). To learn more about Vu1’s technology, please go to: http://www.Vu1.com/
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain the necessary funding required for our operations, the future demonstration and commercial availability of our light bulb, timing for submission of our light bulb to certification and certification results, timing for bulb production, manufacturing capability of our facility, future interest of channel partners and distributors, our strategic planning and business development plans, future applications of the technology, the viability, pricing and acceptance of our products in the market. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control, as well as the risks and other factors set forth in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other periodic reports as filed from time to time).
For product enquires please contact info@Vu1.com .
Vu1 announces NEW EXECUTIVE management AND BOARD ROLEs;
VP Manufacturing Philip Styles promoted to chief operating officer; Director Duncan troy assumes chairman role
New Roles Reflect Company's Transition from Development Phase to Commercial Production and Sales and Marketing Focus
Seattle, WA - July 7, 2010 - Vu1 Corporation (OTCBB: VUOC), a developer and manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient, general illumination lighting technology, today announced that Philip G. Styles, the Company's Vice President of Manufacturing and a Director of the Company's manufacturing subsidiary, Sendio s.r.o., has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Styles has also been elected to the Company's Board of Directors.
Mr. Styles has been with Vu1 since September 2007 and his role at Sendio, the Company's wholly-owned manufacturing division in the Czech Republic, has been instrumental in bringing Vu1's technology from prototype to a product ready for transition to full-scale manufacturing. Prior to Vu1, he worked for Sony Corporation for 14 years in various technical and managerial positions in production engineering. Mr. Styles has also held several other senior management positions including, most recently, leading a joint venture between LG Electronics and Royal Philips Electronics in the Czech Republic.
Additionally, Duncan Troy, one of the Company's Directors, has been appointed to the position of Non-Executive Chairman. Mr. Troy was elected to the board of Vu1 in February 2004 and previously served as Non-Executive Chairman from May 2004 to July 2008. He is also the founder and a director of SMS LOTTOME LIMITED, a UK cell phone lottery and gaming company and a director of the board of Private Equity III Limited, a UK investment vehicle.
"As evidenced by the recent preliminary order for Vu1's R30 Electron Stimulated Luminescence™ flood energy-efficient light bulbs, Vu1 is one step closer to realizing the Company's very significant potential," commented Duncan Troy, Vu1's Chairman. "Phil's promotion reflects both his contributions to date and his value to Vu1 in the future, given our focus now on building out the broader operational structure and team needed to support the Company's growth. As we move from pure technology development to full-scale commercial manufacturing and execution of a multi-channel sales and marketing strategy, I am delighted to be assuming the role of Non-Executive Chairman at this critical stage in the Company's evolution. I congratulate Phil on his well-deserved promotion and I look forward to working closely with him, the rest of the executive management team and the Board of Directors to help ensure we successfully capitalize on the opportunities before Vu1."
Business Update Conference Call
As previously announced, Vu1 has scheduled a Business Update conference call, on which Mr. Sellers will be joined by Philip Styles, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman Duncan Troy. The conference call will take place on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 5:00 PM EDT (2:00 PM PDT/10:00 PM BST/11:00 PM CEST).
To listen to the Business Update conference call, participants in the US and Canada need to dial 800-374-2493 and international participants need to dial +1 706-634-7642. All participants need to provide the following access code: 86587723. A replay of the call will be available beginning two hours after the conclusion of the call until midnight on Friday, July 16, 2010. To access the replay, in the US and Canada, dial 800-642-1687 and for international participants dial +1-706-645-9291. Participants will need to use the same access as above: 86587723. On the morning of Thursday July 15th, a digital recording of the conference call can be accessed on the Company's website at www.Vu1.com.
About Vu1 Corporation
Vu1 Corporation is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy efficient, environmentally-friendly lighting solutions worldwide. Vu1's ESL™ Technology creates the same light quality as an incandescent bulb but is more energy efficient. There is no use of the neurotoxin Mercury (Hg) in the lighting process and the ESL™ Technology fits neatly into classic light bulb shapes similar to those familiar to consumers everywhere. This eliminates the need to bend the technology into an unusual, twisted spiral shape (CFL) or have costly and heavy heat dissipation designed into the bulb housing (LED). To learn more about Vu1's technology, please view the video link http://Vu1.com/ESLupdate/ or go to: www.Vu1.com
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain the necessary funding required for our operations, the future demonstration and commercial availability of our light bulb, timing for submission of our light bulb to certification and certification results, timing for bulb production, manufacturing capability of our facility, future interest of channel partners and distributors, our strategic planning and business development plans, future applications of the technology, the viability, pricing and acceptance of our products in the market. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control, as well as the risks and other factors set forth in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other periodic reports as filed from time to time).
For product enquires please contact info@Vu1.com .
Vu1 Receives Preliminary Order for Its Next Generation Energy-Efficient Environmentally Friendly Lighting Technology
Company Schedules Conference Call to Provide Full Business Progress Update
Press Release Source: Vu1 Corporation On Thursday July 1, 2010, 10:00 am EDT
SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - 07/01/10) - Vu1 Corporation (OTC.BB:VUOC - News), a developer and manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient, general illumination lighting technology, today announced that one of the Pacific Northwest's leading electrical distribution companies has placed a preliminary order for Vu1's R30 Electron Stimulated Luminescence™ (ESL™) reflector energy-efficient light bulbs. This is Vu1's first order for its next-generation lighting technology, and the order will be confirmed on completion of external lab performance tests and UL certification, which the Company anticipates receiving in August of this year.
Vu1's R30 ESL™ bulb is a direct replacement for the 65W incandescent flood bulb. It is virtually indistinguishable from the traditional incandescent lamp it replaces and, unlike compact fluorescent lamps, is mercury-free. The Company's ESL™ Lighting Technology uses accelerated electrons to stimulate phosphor to create light, making the surface of the bulb "glow."
"Our goal at Vu1 was to create an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective lighting solution, while also providing the same light quality and functionality of traditional incandescent lamps, and we believe we have done just that," commented R. Gale Sellers, Chief Executive Officer. "Securing this first preliminary order from a leading electrical distributor is a significant milestone for Vu1. Given the growing demand for high-performance, environmentally friendly alternatives by individuals and corporations alike, we are confident we are just at the beginning of a major groundswell of interest in our ESL™ lighting technology; Vu1 is already in advanced talks with a number of other leading regional and national distributors who have expressed interest in the product."
ESL™ Technology creates the same light quality as an incandescent bulb but is more energy-efficient. There is no use of the neurotoxin Mercury (Hg) in the lighting process and the ESL™ Technology fits neatly into classic light bulb shapes similar to those familiar to consumers everywhere. This eliminates the need to bend the technology into an unusual, twisted spiral shape (CFL) or have costly and heavy heat dissipation designed into the bulb housing (LED). To learn more about Vu1's technology, please view the video link (http://vu1corporation.com/ESLupdate/) demonstrating the Company's ESL™ technology in prototype light bulbs representing various shapes and sizes.
Business Update Conference Call
The Company has also scheduled a Business Update conference call, on which Mr. Sellers will be joined by Philip Styles, VP of Manufacturing, to discuss progress in the development of the Company's manufacturing capabilities and the status of UL certification of its new ESL™ lighting technology. The conference call will take place on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 5:00 PM ET (2:00 PM PT). The Company will provide dial-in details in a separate press release prior to the conference call.
About Vu1 Corporation
Vu1 Corporation is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy-efficient, environmentally friendly lighting solutions worldwide. Vu1 is developing a new, energy-efficient light bulb to provide the consumer market with the first affordable, non-toxic light bulb with features consumers are demanding and not receiving from existing products. More information about Vu1 is available at: www.Vu1.com and the Vu1 Blog at http://Vu1corp.blogspot.com
This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein. These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain the necessary funding required for our operations, the future demonstration and commercial availability of our light bulb, timing for submission of our light bulb to certification and certification results, timing for bulb production, manufacturing capability of our facility, future interest of channel partners and distributors, our strategic planning and business development plans, future applications of the technology, the viability, pricing and acceptance of our products in the market. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control, as well as the risks and other factors set forth in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other periodic reports as filed from time to time).
For product enquiries please contact info@Vu1.com.
Contact:
Ian Bailey
+1- 212-359-9587
Michael Polyviou
+1- 913-789-9978
A new posting just arrived from Jim Brodrick, the "Guru of All Things LED" for the US Department of Energy. It has to do with all of those linear tube LED products that we saw at LightFair claiming to be headed toward replacing the familiar fluorescent tube. As we expected, this is another example of over-promising and under-delivering.
Comments from Mr. Brodrick include:
"Those LED products are a far cry from matching the performance of fluorescent T8s, it all adds up to a surefire recipe for consumer disappointment.”
"LED T8s have not proven competitive with linear fluorescent lamps. This is not a vague impression “sensed” from the marketplace; it’s a DOE finding based on careful analysis and testing results from DOE’s CALiPER program."
“The average initial bare-lamp light output of the LED replacement products was only about one-third of the average for the fluorescent lamps tested – with the best-performing LED T8 producing only half of the light output of a typical 4′ fluorescent"
Vu1 is continuing R&D on an ESL replacement for the linear fluorescent tube. There are over 1.4B fluorescent tube fixtures in the U.S. alone. Each of these fixtures contains multiple tubes. The idea of applying ESL to these fixtures with an energy efficient, mercury free, incandescent light quality and affordable alternative is very exciting. Probably most exciting would be Vu1 ESL tube's potential to work with ambient light sensors and provide constant dimmabilty in buildings resulting in huge energy savings.
The latest report - May 2010 - has just been issued from "The Department of Energy Commercially Available Light-Emitting Diode Product and Evaluation (CALiPER) Program".
We have continued to question much of the hype regarding LED products. The best source of true performance data comes from the tests being run by the DOE. The latest findings support what we have been hearing from top scientists in lighting. LEDs are having significant issues with size, true efficacy, life and led color degradation beginning very early on. The report does not address one of the biggest issues - cost.
Summary of Results: Round 10 of Product Testing: "Smaller Replacement Lamps" DOE Solid State Lighting
Two out of four lamps tested "Two of the small replacement lamps, the PAR30L (09-96) and the A-lamp (09-98), did not meet ANSI-defined lamp format standards for the geometry of the lamp styles they are meant to replace. The PAR30L lamp was shorter than the required minimal overall lamp length, which could cause the lamp to be recessed inappropriately or not fit in some fixtures. The diameter of the neck of the A-lamp was too large and widening of the neck starts too close to the Edison base, which could result in the lamp not fitting in some fixtures. Respecting form factor standards is important for market acceptance as demonstrated by lessons learned from CFLs.25" (initial market failure).
Due to the large differences in performance between the submitted and purchased units, several attempts were made to purchase additional units for testing. In each case, the manufacturer indicated that the product was temporarily out of stock and would not be available for several months. The CALiPER results in this case raise a number of doubts.
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The relatively high performance of sample 09-16 submitted by the manufacturer may indicate that it was hand-picked to significantly outperform others and is not representative of the typical performance of lamps in this product line.
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The relatively poor performance of sample 09-107A as compared to the submitted sample may indicate inconsistently produced units of the product.
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The apparent malfunctioning in sample 09-107B may indicate product design flaws or quality control issues.
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The perpetual ‘out of stock’ status of the product may shed doubt on the general reliability of the product and on the longer-term integrity of the product warranty.
A 2010 report on CALiPER long-term testing shows that a wide range of behaviors in lumen depreciation and color maintenance can be observed across SSL luminaires and replacement lamps. None of the products included in CALiPER Round 10 have been tested for reliability at this time. Due to the range of behaviors and rapid rate of change of SSL technology, buyers and specifiers should be wary of all product life claims. More than half the SSL products subjected to CALiPER long-term testing will not provide 70% of initial light output at 50,000 hours and already exhibit significant color shift within the duration of the CALiPER long-term operation. About one quarter of the SSL products would not pass a simple 1000-hour operational test: they do not last as long as a traditional incandescent lamp.
Company Demonstrates Progress towards Product Introduction in 2010
(May 20th, 2010) SEATTLE – Vu1 Corporation (OTCBB:VUOC), a provider of non-toxic, energy efficient general illumination light technology, today reported its product status and plans for the remainder of 2010.
"Driven by the hard work and commitment of everyone at Vu1, the company has overcome a number of challenging technical difficulties which delayed our anticipated initial product introduction in 2009. In spite of limited available funding, we have continued to refine our technology and have made significant progress in improving efficacy, reliability, performance and size-reduction while reducing our material costs“ said R. Gale Sellers, Vu1 Chief Executive Officer. Vu1 has continued to be featured as a “ breakthrough new technology to watch” in such publications and blogs as; The New York Times, LEDs Magazine, Residential Lighting, Huffington Post, Popular Science, CNET, Xconomy, Gizmodo and others.
Vu1 is pleased to announce the following accomplishments -
Product Development -
·Arrangements have been made with Underwriters Laboratories™ for the Vu1 ESL R-30 bulb to begin UL certification testing in June 2010.
·Key components of our Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL™) technology have been refined including the electron source, integrated electronics and luminescent materials.
·Electronics have been miniaturized to support the Vu1 R-30 bulb being a direct replacement for all existing R-30 fixtures and trim kits.
·The company has increased its bulb’s “Power Factor” (efficiency on the grid) to .99 which we believe exceeds all other energy efficient lighting technologies.
·Vu1 has improved the bulb’s efficacy and believes that with sufficient funding it is on target to deliver a 19W, 600 lumen, dimmable R-30 reflector bulb later this year.
·The company anticipates significant improvements in energy-efficiency and bulb life through ongoing research and development.
Sales and Marketing –
·Over 200 independent lighting distributors have expressed interest through our web site to distribute ESL bulbs into a variety of channels including hospitality, municipal buildings, museums, and cruise ships.
·Keen interest in ESL lighting has been expressed by major U.S. utility consortiums on the East and West coasts culminating in several meetings and ongoing progress discussions.
·Meetings have been held with several of the largest retailers, electrical distributors and eCommerce lighting resellers in the US and EU.
ESL Competitive Advantage –
·ESL technology will provide the best combination of safety, non-toxicity, incandescent light quality, performance and affordability of any energy efficient lighting technology.
·Vu1 ESL bulbs will be a screw-in retrofit solution for the incandescent bulbs they replace.
·The characteristics of ESL technology will allow Vu1 products to most closely match incandescent light quality when compared spectrally to other energy efficient technologies.
·ESL will swiftly reach the affordability factor CFL’s now offer without having to compromise light quality, instant brightness, dimming or consumer safety.
·In the recessed can market, LEDs suffer constraints due to the high heat environment. ESL will be a superior, cost effective solution for addressing the 800 million recessed can fixtures in the US.
·Vu1 anticipates ESL bulbs will always be significantly less expensive than LED’s while offering superior light quality.
·Vu1 has begun testing ESL technology in other bulb shapes and sizes. The most interesting is in a linear tube configuration that may provide a fully dimmable, energy efficient replacement for the common fluorescent tube.
Key Milestones for 2010 –
With sufficient funding, the company anticipates further progress through the remainder of the year to the point of reaching commercialization of ESL technology in Q4 2010 in the following steps:
·Product - Completion and Certification (June – August 2010)
·Product - Channel Evaluation (August – October 2010)
·Product – Introduction (October – December 2010)
Vu1 recently attended Light Fair 2010 and held meetings with distributors. We were very encouraged to find continuing support for our bulb. The distributors we spoke to reaffirm the need for a non-toxic, affordable, fully dimmable, incandescent light quality replacement for the soon to be banned incandescent light bulb is still needed and the current energy-efficient lighting solutions fall short of consumer desires.
About Vu1 Corporation
Vu1 Corporation (OTCBB: VUOC) is dedicated to applying its technology to produce energy efficient, environmentally-friendly lighting solutions worldwide. Vu1 is developing a new, energy efficient light bulb to provide the consumer market with the first affordable, non-toxic light bulb with features consumers are demanding and not receiving from existing products. More information about Vu1 is available at: www.Vu1.com and the Vu1 Blog at vu1corp.blogspot.com
This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein. These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain the necessary funding required for our operations, the future demonstration and commercial availability of our light bulb, timing for submission of our light bulb to certification and certification results, timing for bulb production, manufacturing capability of our facility, future interest of channel partners and distributors, our strategic planning and business development plans, future applications of the technology, the viability, pricing and acceptance of our products in the market.. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend", “scheduled” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control, as well as the risks and other factors set forth in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our other periodic reports as filed from time to time).
We have received a number of emails about announcements regarding new LED lamp bulbs that are destined to solve all the issues of general illumination lighting - perfect color, great brightness and at what may be an affordable cost. The bulbs are not available or independent laboratory tested and can't be seen except, in one case, inside a glass-domed display.
While at Light Fair last week we some how missed seeing any of these astonishing breakthrough LED products. Lest we be seen as ESL-touting, LED naysayers - I thought it was interesting to see what people in the LED industry are saying about the state of LED lighting technology and some of these new "claims".
From "Solid State Lighting" magazine - May 17, 2010
"Light Fair, the USA's largest annual lighting-focused gathering, is always a good checkpoint for progress in the LED lighting front. There are never any real technological surprises, since progress in this field is fast-paced, but still incremental, as it is in any semiconductor-driven arena. In fact, if anyone is claiming something revolutionary, just plan to smile, nod and find someone who really knows about the technology to help debunk the over-zealous claims.Solid state lighting provides a perfect opportunity for producing junk, vapor or smoke and mirrors (it's important that the two are combined for the most spectacular effect) --"
FYI - we have heard no claims about break-through, high performance LED Reflector Bulbs. All of the announcements have been regarding lamp bulbs.
The Vu1 CEO, CMO and VP of Manufacturing are all here at Light Fair. Light Fair is for manufacturers that are showing off their new products and lines to potential resellers. We are not into production so it did not make sense for us to go the expense of being an Exhibitor. Instead – we are meeting with EPA representatives, testing labs, strategic distribution partners and industry consultants. Plus getting a firsthand look at all competing technologies.
This year’s show is 95% LED. After you go through the first 10 booths you will find that the remaining 300 are mostly more of the same. Everybody is making essentially the same product – just different cases, some dim better than others, some are for stadiums or parking lots – some for business and homes. After 6 hours of searching I found exactly ONE product (an LED) that I had not seen before. It was a somewhat dim and expensive (as almost all the products were) recessed can product that is using a clever variation on deployment of the LEDs in the lamp. Other than that – not much new. In the recessed can space – there were lots of heavy, expensive LED PAR 35 types of products. High color temps, low lumen output, lots of glare and very directional light distribution. And yes, expensive. CFLs were few and far between. One founder of a sizeable distribution/rep agency commented to me "CFLs are over".
The link below comes from Electronics Design Strategy News. It gives one of the best descriptions we have seen regarding the challenges facing energy efficient lighting tehnologies. They conservatively and accurately look at the issue of mercury in CFLs and also discuss why -
"It would be a formidable challenge for SSL to replace the venerable incandescent bulb and, in the longer run, the CFL."
A few months ago several US universities and medical schools joined ranks to initiate a study regarding health issues being attributed to LED light. The problems were first recognized from LED exposure from consumer devices such as cellphones, iPods, and TVs. Now Gizmodo and the LA Times have published some of the first articles on one of the heath issues - the reduction in melatonin production due to exposure to LED generated light in the "blue portion of the non-visible spectrum".
It will be interesting - and important - to follow this concern as we move from very low output LEDs in consumer devices to very high output LEDs being promoted for consumer general illumination lighting, automotive and street lights.
We were prepared to be a presenter at the MIT Enterprise Forum "Sustainability for Start-ups" scheduled for April 29th in Seattle. The Forum has been postponed but I felt it would be beneficial to share the comments we had prepared for this event.
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Vu1 was created on the premise that American innovation can provide solutions in sustainable products that can result in products that not only are good for the environment but are superior in everyway to the incumbent technologies that we need to eliminate.
Sustainable products don’t have to be more expensive, slower, bigger, unsafe, or poorer performing than the products they are replacing.
Our goal is to do what other energy efficient technology have failed to do - produce a highly energy efficient “light without compromise” with the warm incandescent glow of the Edison light bulb we have known for 150 years that is non-toxic to the environment (unlike Compact Florescent Light), affordable (unlike LEDs), with all of the basic attributes consumers have come to expect from their lighting. (instant on, dimmable, trash bin disposable, long lasting in a standard shape and size).
Our goal is to do this in a process that hopefully will give Vu1 the best carbon and environmental footprint in the general illumination lighting industry.
To accomplish this we have focused on product design, materials, manufacturing processes, packaging and distribution.
Key environmental initiatives -
·Create a product that is “trash bin” disposable
oContains no toxic materials
oCan be recycled when and if municipalities have the ability to process clean electronics.
oNo mercury (the Achilles Heel of CFL bulbs)
oExceed very strict ROHS standards regarding hazardous materials.
·A primary material in our product is glass
oWe have determined that recycled CRT glass has characteristics that are very complimentary to our technology. We are currently looking into using CRT waste glass as a key raw material
·The predominant high energy usage steps in our process (working with glass components and drying phosphor coatings) is done using natural gas versus electricity.
·We are zealous about our water process. Not only do we comply with all European Union regulations regarding waste water cleanness – we can brag that the water coming out of our plant is cleaner than the municipal water coming in.
·We are committed to the providing environmentally friendly packaging. All Vu1 products will be packaged in recyclable paper. We are currently looking for and doing the financial analysis of acquiring recycled paper to produce our packaging. We find it inexcusable that a majority of “energy efficient” lighting products are sold in plastic clam shell packaging.
·Vu1 products don’t weigh 3 lbs as do some of the better LED products. Vu1 products meet the ANSI standard in size for the products we are producing. The “carbon cost” of transportation for our products should be equal to or less than - comparable CFL products and significantly less the LED products.
