GE Announces Advancement in Incandescent Technology (comparable to CFL)

[Xithras]

Re-inventing Edison: New Light Bulb Will Provide High-Quality Light and Deliver Efficiency Comparable to Compact Fluorescent Lamps

GE Consumer & Industrial’s Lighting division, a world leader in the development of energy-efficient lighting products, today announced advancements to the light bulb invented by GE’s founder Thomas Edison that potentially will elevate the energy efficiency of this 125-year-old technology to levels comparable to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), delivering significant environmental benefits. Over the next several years, these advancements will lead to the introduction of high-efficiency incandescent lamps that provide the same high light quality, brightness and color as current incandescent lamps while saving energy and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The new high efficiency incandescent (HEI™) lamp, which incorporates innovative new materials being developed in partnership by GE’s Lighting division, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and GE’s Global Research Center, headquartered in Niskayuna, NY, would replace traditional 40- to 100-Watt household incandescent light bulbs, the most popular lamp type used by consumers today. The new technology could be expanded to all other incandescent types as well. The target for these bulbs at initial production is to be nearly twice as efficient, at 30 lumens-per-Watt, as current incandescent bulbs. Ultimately the high efficiency lamp (HEI) technology is expected to be about four times as efficient as current incandescent bulbs and comparable to CFL bulbs. Adoption of new technology could lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 40 million tons of CO2 in the U.S. and up to 50 million tons in the EU if the entire installed base of traditional incandescent bulbs was replaced with HEI lamps.

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While I applaud the effort, I can't help but wonder why they didn't do this YEARS AGO. I can't wait to get my hands on them though...I can finally replace those last few incandescents with something more efficient.

[Sherman A1]

1. That's really nice of them to get around to this

perhaps it is eroding sales? They just announced closing of a plant here in St. Louis due to lower demand, but oddly it seems that the equipment is being shipped to Mexico... probably for storage I guess.

Just finished switching the entire house to CFL's as of yesterday. Had to buy a new lamp to get the last one done. Really like them... I will have to wait and see if the monthly bill is less.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. The technology wasn't available...

Back in the late 80's, when I worked for Duro-Test, we spent a small fortune trying to come up with an efficient incandescent lamp, even though we had a big business in CFL's and other fourescents.

We finally made, and tried to sell, one that had about a 40% higher efficiency than a typical lamp. Let's just say it wasn't exactly ready for prime time. It worked, but manufacturing it was expensive, and it had a wierd light pattern that everyone hated.

Apparently, GE has finally come up with the materials and manufacturing capability to make a decent one.

[ClintonTyree]

3. Well, they certainly have the money for R&D...

with all the money they've been making on Bush's war in Iraq.

GE...bringing good things to life.