CFL Bulbs "consumers were being misled by the bulbs' packaging"

Now that the ban on incandescent light bulbs has gone into effect in the UK - it is being discovered that CFL bulbs are a poor lighting alternative. 

From the BBC and Fox News -

Study Casts Dim Light on Energy-Efficient Bulbs

They're billed as energy-efficient, but compact fluorescent bulbs are getting a dim review in a new study.   The study, published in Engineering and Technology magazine, shows the energy-efficient light bulbs lose on average 22 percent of their brightness over their lifetime, the BBC reports.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575858,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8367933.stm

Wait until the true environmental cost of a "green" technology that requires Mercury to work starts piling up.

CFL Analysis Summary - Actual Savings

We were just advised of a very informative site discussing the many issues with CFL lights -   at the GreenerLights Blog.  There is excellent information on actual performance, safety and power factor (actual delivered energy savings to The Grid).


CFL Analysis Summary - Actual Savings



With all the factors below added together, it should be more than obvious that CFLs
a) don't save as much energy as claimed;
b) don't give the same quality light as incandescent and halogen lamps;
c) cannot be used in any light fitting (luminaires); and
d) are not as environmentally friendly and safe as previously assumed.
 
http://greenerlights.blogspot.com/2009/03/3m-cfl-analysis-summary-actual-savings.html
 

" Paying a premium for new technology, but $70 for one bulb?"

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune

• Color is still a work in progress. LED lights can also have that commercial cool blue tint and other less desirable hues of green or pink, depending on the manufacturer.
• LEDs are more directional, which makes them good for task and spot lighting, but not as general light in a table lamp or ceiling fixture.
• It will also be years before the common LED bulb will cost $20 to $25 instead of $60 or $70.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/yourmoney/68671562.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsX

Please return the LED bulb to your nearest Costco location

A few months ago our phones began ringing off the hook with friends and acquaintances telling us about the inexpensive LED flood lights that they had seen at Costco. Many expressed great concern that these would prove the viability of affordable, well performing LEDs aggressively coming to market. Based on the price point and the description of the LEDs (no heat sinking) we responded that these would likely be very poor performers both in light quality and life. However, I went down to my local Costco to purchase one for our competitive products collection. I first took it home and when I put it into a recessed can in the kitchen - my wife politely told me to get it out of our house. It had terrible glare, produced a color of light similar to LED headlights and was made of all plastic with no heat sinking. On Friday I received a letter from Costco (attached) offering a refund since it appears these LED bulbs are not performing to required standards. We predict this will the first of many of these types of “recalls” as LED lights stumble onto the market and start to fail.

Comparative Study on the Thermal Performance of LEDs and Fluorescent Lamps

A study on the issues facing LED lighting in general illumination lighting has been published in "IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics - Vol. 24 No. 7". Authored by in part by Dr. Ron Hui - IEEE Distinguished Lecturer PELS. This study states that despite claims of high efficacy, LED output performance is only true at low junction temperatures and not sustainable at high temperatures (which is the normal operating environment for many general illumination lighting applications). The study refers to the need to identify the “hidden issues” associated with LED lighting. A surprising number in this study was that while linear fluorescent tubes dissipate between 73%-77% of total lamp power as heat - LEDs dissipate 87%-90% of input power as heat.

This supports what we have been hearing from the LED industry - that LEDs will only be a viable solution in general illumination lighting when consumers and businesses are willing to install new LED specific lighting fixtures.



This report can be acquired at:


http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?isnumber=5075737&arnumber=5175610&count=20&index=15


A Simple Method for Comparative Study on the Thermal Performance of LEDs and Fluorescent Lamps
Yaxiao Qin Deyan Lin Hui, S.Y.
Dept. of Electron. Eng., City Univ. (CityU) of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China;
This paper appears in: Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on
Publication Date: July 2009
Volume: 24, Issue: 7
On page(s): 1811-1818
ISSN: 0885-8993
INSPEC Accession Number: 10812269
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/TPEL.2009.2017021
Current Version Published: 2009-07-28


Abstract


A simple method is proposed to measure the heat dissipation of LEDs and fluorescent lamps in an open system that allows light energy to escape. Based on this method, a comparative study on the thermal and luminous performance of high-brightness LEDs and fluorescent lamps is presented. At rated power, T5 and T8 fluorescent lamps generate about 73%-77% of their total power as heat, while three types of high-brightness LEDs dissipate about 87%-90% of input power as heat. Heat dissipation is an important factor particularly for air-conditioned buildings when overall energy efficiency is considered. T5 fluorescent lamps perform better than some existing LEDs in terms of luminous efficacy and heat generation in this study.

Proposed Product Specifications

We have had many requests regarding the proposed performance of the Vu1 ESL R-30 bulb.  The following specifications are those that we have established with Vu1’s engineering and manufacturing groups for our first product.  Some of these specifications have already been met.   Final published performance to these specification will come from independent lab testing, formal certification reporting and through product safety testing that will be conducted by groups such as UL and ETL.   These are the TARGET specifications that Vu1 is currently working toward.

Vu1 ESL R-30 Reflector Bulb

Product Description

Vu1's first consumer product will be a reflector bulb in the R-30 shape.  The R-30 is the predominant bulb utilized in recessed can lighting applications.    R lamps designed for use in places such as showroom floors, museums and for general overhead lighting in homes where a smooth distribution of light with a soft-edged beam is desired. 

Product Specification (proposed)

Functionality

The Vu1  R-30 will be a direct replacement for any R-30 incandescent reflector bulb.  In shape, size, and performance (illumination, light color, dimablity, instant on) the Vu1 ESL R-30 will be indistinguishable from an incandescent R-30.

Performance

Nominal Wattage		=<20 W
Lumens output		=>600 lm
Color Temperature (CCT)		2700-2850K
Color Rendering Index (CRI)		>90
Power Factor		>90
Rated Life		=> 6000 hours
Instant on		=< 250 ms  (at full power or any pre- dimmed level)
Fully dimmable		Constant dimability to 20%
Beam Angle		60 degrees
Glare		Minimal, similar to frosted incandescent R30
Voltage		120VAC

Form Factor / Compatibility

Shape		Compatible with all existing R30 fixtures
In fixture		Indistinguishable from incandescent R30
Lamp finish		White face
Maximum Overall Length		5.75 inches
Diameter		3.75 inches
Base		E26 screw base and GU24 pin base
Weight		=< 12 ounces
Heat tolerance		Designed for ventilated and non-ventilated recessed can fixtures
Wet environment		Indoor or dry environment only
Cold environment		Performance unaffected by temperature

Environmental and Safety

Materials		Non-toxic case, glass, electronics, phosphor
Emissions		No X-ray, No UV
Breakage risk		All materials contained by safety coating
EFI		Meets FCC regulations
Heat generation		>50% less than 65W incandescent R30

Vu1 Bulbs Burn Down Trailer Park :-)

In the category of "we couldn't make this stuff up" - we were just forwarded a post from an investor message board that claims Vu1 Bulbs are responsible for burning down a trailer park!! The folks around Vu1's HQ have had great fun passing this one around. We just sent it over to our team in the Czech Republic advising them that we obviously need to tighten up our safety testing. We will have to go back to our contacts at UL and make sure that when we start the certification process they will be specifically testing for trailer fixtures to make sure this never happens again!!

btw- we also have heard that our energy efficient, mercury free, Earth Saving Lights (ESL) may be responsible for Global Warming. Our apologies to the polar bears that called this in.