Skip to comments.
Scientists Build a Better Incandescent Light Bulb… Six Years After Last US Factory Closes
CNS News ^
| April 22, 2016
| Barbara Hollingsworth
Posted on 04/25/2016 6:58:38 AM PDT by The_Victor
![](http://www.cnsnews.com/s3/files/styles/content_30p/s3/mit-incandescent.jpg?itok=cH44Royr)
Protoytpe of a new energy efficient incandescent light bulb. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Six years after the last incandescent light bulb factory in the U.S. shut down due to strict new federal energy conservation standards, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have come up with a technological breakthrough that could make incandescent bulbs twice as energy-efficient as their replacements.
MIT researchers discovered that by wrapping the filament of an incandescent bulb with a “photonic crystal,” they could “recycle” the energy that was typically lost as heat to create more light.
The new technique “makes a dramatic difference in how efficiently the system converts electricity into light,” said the research team led by MIT professors Marin Soljačić, John Joannopoulos and Gang Chen.
Their results were published online in the January edition of the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
“The heat just keeps bouncing back in toward the filament until it finally ends up as visible light,” MIT post-doctoral researcher Ognjen Ilic explained. “It reduces the energy that would otherwise be wasted.”
In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which set new energy conservation standards for lighting fixtures and other products by 2014 in order to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The “new light bulb law”, as it was called, required “25 percent greater efficiency for household light bulbs that have traditionally used between 40 and 100 watts of electricity,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The stringent new standards effectively prohibited the manufacture of most ordinary incandescent light bulbs in the U.S. As a result, GE shuttered the last domestic incandescent light bulb factory in the nation in 2010, laying off 200 workers in Winchester, Virginia.
Since then, incandescent bulbs have been largely replaced with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. In February, GE announced that due to poor sales, it would no longer make or sell CFLs – which contain mercury - in the U.S., and will focus on the more expensive, but longer lasting LEDs instead.
But a new generation of incandescent bulbs could be twice as energy efficient as LEDs without the drawbacks, including higher initial cost and “inconsistent” white light.
“Whereas the luminous efficiency of conventional incandescent lights is between 2 and 3 percent, that of fluorescents (including CFLs) is between 7 and 15 percent, and that of most commercial LEDs between 5 and 20 percent, the new two-stage incandescents could reach efficiencies as high as 40 percent,” according to a press release from MIT.
The MIT researchers noted that the greater increase in energy efficiency also comes with “exceptional reproduction of colours and scalable power.”
In February, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) introduced the Energy Efficiency Free Market Act of 2016 (HR 4504), which would prohibit states and federal agencies from adopting “any requirement to comply with a standard for energy conservation or water efficiency with respect to a product.”
“This legislation eliminates the overreaching arm of the federal government that continues to force itself into the household of the American consumer,” Burgess said. “When the market drives the standard, there’s no limit to how rapidly manufacturers can respond when consumers demand more efficient and better-made products.”
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), commercial and residential users in the U.S. used 412 billion kilowatthours of electricity for lighting in 2014. Lighting accounted for 15 percent of their total electricity use.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: incandescent; lightbulbs
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-126 next last
To: Elsie
To: babygene
Start of quote leads with 'Vacuum radio tubes'. Argon is mentioned in connection with longer light-bulb life. Also specifically mentioned argon is not used in radio tubes.
Vacuum radio tubes ran cooler filaments than light bulbs; and, still evaporation from the filament deposited a black layer inside the glass. Argon gas reflects some of the lost tungsten back to the filament, and lengthens the light-bulb life accordingly; but, interferes with operation of a radio tube and is not used in that instance."
Have you by chance considered building a Farnsworth Fusor?
To: Ozark Tom
Actually the filter/mirror is constructed by vacuum deposition of many alternating layers of materials.I know, I browsed the paper.
Still, the effect of the composite device is that the radiation is no longer black body--as you say, it is concentrated in the visible range, because infra-red (most of the black-body curve at regular filament temps of about 2700 K), can't escape.
A brilliant (pun, sorry) idea. The practical questions, are cost of the layered envelope, and ultimate durability of the final composite structure. Will the filament hold up any better than it does with a traditional bulb?
103
posted on
04/26/2016 4:56:42 AM PDT
by
Pearls Before Swine
(The would-be Empress has no clothes. My eyes!)
To: Pearls Before Swine; SZonian
The REAL question...
How many Mormons will it take to change this new fangled lightbulb?
Six
One to change the light bulb;
one to deny that there was any change made;
one to say that we shouldn't focus on the change--only the need for light;
one to say we don't teach that the light bulb needed changing in the first place;
one to say that the changer was acting for himself and not as an official changer;
and one to say "who cares who changed the bulb, don't you feel the burning of the light?
12,560,869 (the total Church membership according to the most recent Conference Report).
One prophet to propose it in General Conference, and 12,560,867 to sustain the motion and accept it as Scripture and as God's Will, and one to actually change the light bulb.
It depends...
If it is the Relief Society it takes four. One to fix refreshments. One to bring the tablecloth. One to design the Center Piece, And one to screw in the light bulb.
If it is the Bishopric, forget it, they don't do light bulbs. They call a Priesthood Executive Council And delegate it to the Elders.
If it is the Elders it takes four. Three that don't show up, and One to change the bulb.
If it is the High Priests it takes four. Two to push the wheel chairs. One to handle the oxygen tank, And one to screw in the light bulb.
If it is the Home Teachers, it only takes two, But you have to wait until the end of the month.
If it is the Aaronic Priesthood, it only takes one. He holds the light bulb in the socket And the whole world revolves around him.
Twelve
3 children to hold up pictures.
1 chorister to lead everyone in a song.
2 Primary Teachers to assist
1 Member of the Presidency to conduct
1 Den Leader to sign the books of the
4 Cub Scouts who actually do the job.
104
posted on
04/26/2016 5:23:58 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: Elsie
How can something be 'cheaper' than nothing? Same way that un-leaded gasoline was more expensive than leaded gasoline.
105
posted on
04/26/2016 7:33:28 AM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
To: Da Bilge Troll
Of course, it will cost $30 each.
incandescent bulbs could be twice as energy efficient as LEDs without the drawbacks, including higher initial cost and inconsistent white light.
106
posted on
04/26/2016 11:18:57 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: central_va
Why cant people who have their own well and septic systems use 5 gallon flush toilets? Fascism. Folks the newer low volume stools flush first time every time I have replaced all my stools with them so I know. There is an extended flush on them that I have never used. Like the new light bulb, things change.
107
posted on
04/26/2016 11:29:02 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: Little Ray
I have had an LED fade waaaaay ahead of schedule and another simply not work. But I hope the rest last as long as they are supposed to. bought a couple cases of LEDs at the dollar store, buck apiece. I have found a few flaky one but at the price I consider them disposable.
Side note I use 6 of them in my bathroom and can all no difference if I mix 40 watt in with 60 watt same light as far as I can tell. Energy use of five 60 watt LED =1 60 Watt Incandescent bulb, according to labels, not scientific.
108
posted on
04/26/2016 11:33:36 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: The Great RJ
I often wonder how much Mercury was dumped into the environment by all those CFL bulbs. Ever read EPA rues for how to deal with a broken CFL bulb? Has mat suits and all required, wonder why that rule was not enforced?
109
posted on
04/26/2016 11:35:27 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: Da Bilge Troll
$30
But a new generation of incandescent bulbs could be twice as energy efficient as LEDs without the drawbacks, including higher initial cost and inconsistent white light.
To: Ozark Tom
Leave the big screen TV on full time-plenty of heat there. There again newer ones don't. I bought two 70 inch Vizio TVs a year apart big difference in weight and heat output. TVs are little more than a iPads anymore anyway, in fact I would rather they were just big iPads they would be more useful.
111
posted on
04/26/2016 11:54:04 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: Elsie
How can something be 'cheaper' than nothing? Sucking is more expensive than blowing. :)
112
posted on
04/26/2016 11:56:49 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: headstamp 2
GE is getting out of the CFL business in the next 3-4 years.
113
posted on
04/26/2016 11:59:00 AM PDT
by
Patriotic1
(Dic mihi solum facta, domina - Just the facts, ma'am)
To: Ozark Tom
Computer screens are also implicated for sleep issues. Maybe the old cathode ray stuff but not the new LED backlit. No proof just opinion.
114
posted on
04/26/2016 11:59:35 AM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: kennedy
Incorrect on the lifespan.
I have a few going about 3 years now of continuous use.
The current incandescents are garbage but at least they don’t burst into sparks and flames like the CFL’s.
115
posted on
04/26/2016 1:39:00 PM PDT
by
headstamp 2
(Fear is the mind killer.)
To: itsahoot
There is an extended flush on them that I have never used.Those VW engineers are EVERYWHERE!
116
posted on
04/26/2016 2:45:39 PM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: itsahoot
TV's are merely monitors with a built-in computer dedicated (mostly) to showing the image.
How can they still sell a monitor just for a computer's output when ALL TVs now have a PC input?
117
posted on
04/26/2016 2:48:09 PM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: Elsie
TV's are merely monitors with a built-in computer dedicated (mostly) to showing the image. most of them run a version of Android which lets them run apps which are mostly cr@p. I have a MacPro hooked to mine but lack a video card that supports 4K but then I don't have a 4K TV either. I have warped retinas which limit distance vision and I Hooked my Mac to the big screen and decided I liked it.
118
posted on
04/26/2016 4:02:50 PM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
To: itsahoot; 1Old Pro
"...without the drawbacks, including higher initial cost..." I believe you are missing the point of the original ban. It was not efficiency or the environment, it was profit margins too low for GE, Westinghouse and Sylvania to compete with Chinese imports. No new bulb will be produced that does not include a fat profit.
119
posted on
04/26/2016 5:41:02 PM PDT
by
Da Bilge Troll
(Defeatism is not a winning strategy!)
To: Da Bilge Troll
I believe you are missing the point of the original ban. It was not efficiency or the environment, it was profit margins too low for GE, Westinghouse and Sylvania to compete with Chinese imports. I was responding to the $30.00 price claim which was not supported in the article.
120
posted on
04/26/2016 5:43:49 PM PDT
by
itsahoot
(Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't finish a sentence, but he will finish a term.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-126 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson