New $3 Light Bulbs 12 Times More Efficient, Last 60 Yrs

[WRXWagon2112]

This is pretty amazing. Though I'm not too thrilled with having to pay $3 per bulb.

Cambridge University researchers have developed a $3 LED-based lightbulb that is 12 times more efficient than regular tungsten light bulbs, three times more than low energy ones. It lights up instantly, lasting for 100,000 hours,

The cheap lightbulb could cost the energy bill in any house by as much as three quarters. In fact, if everyone replaced their current light bulbs, the proportion of lighting in electricity consumption would go down from 20 to 5 percent worldwide.

They also avoid using any toxic materials, like lead: The new LEDs use gallium nitride, which until now was too expensive to obtain because it had to be grown on sapphire wafers, which brought the cost of the lightbulbs to $28 each.

The new method, developed by Cambridge University-based Centre for Gallium Nitride, uses silicon wafers, bringing the cost down to $3 each. And if you think this is a thing of the future, think again: Prototypes are already being produced and the light bulbs may reach the market in a mere two years.

--Alan

[drwrx]

I would happily pay $3 for a bulb that would last 60 years!
However, my guess is the issue will more likely turn to production. Can they feasibly manufacture enough to meet demand?
For example, TCP makes 70 percent of the CFLs on the market today which amounts to 800,000 per day in order to meet consumer demand.

[zaxrex]

Mebbeh the Government could get in on the production. You know, make green jobs for the economy? That would work, right? $819B has to go somewhere...

[ElZorro]

$819B has to go somewhere...

I'll take one for the team, and volunteer to take my 1/265,000,000 (approx $3k) of the money in dollar coins, you know, because they last longer and cost less to make.

[drwrx]

Now the price goes to $12.50 a bulb and you are required to pay a fee on each unit you purchase every year to the Bureau of Bulbs until failure. Than you must file a proof of proper disposal form under penalty of heavy fine. The Bureau of Bulbs will require yearly audits of all purchased units to track proper use, storage, disposal and payment compliance.

We are the Government we are here to help.