Low-cost LED lightbulbs just around the corner?

(Credit: Gizmodo)

The future of household lighting might be on the horizon. I know, it's not as exciting as a new iPhone or cheap broadband, but in practical terms, new low-cost LED lights being developed could fully replace standard incandescent bulbs and halogen tubes in just a few years.

The lights themselves aren't new, but according to Physorg.com, the Cambridge University-based Centre for Gallium Nitride has come up with a new way to manufacture gallium nitride, a man-made semiconductor at the heart of the lights.

This new technique means the bulbs can be produced en masse for about one-tenth of what was possible before, putting them into the affordable category for most people. Right now, at $20 a pop, they're fairly pricey.

It's not just about new technology, though. The LED lights should last longer, years longer, than bulbs in use today. And for the eco-conscious, they're environmentally safer than current lights as they have less toxic materials inside. In addition, they use much less power. A double win.

The question is though, how do they look? Nothing will replace sunlight, but anyone who's worked under halogen knows it's soul-draining, and Tungsten lights just make things look weird. If it's close to natural, sign me up first.

[MadLyb]

As long as it is not CFL, which is the absolute worst light...ever. There are other challenges with LED, besides cost, that still need resolving, but it is a very promising technology.

[Cruton502]

how does the cost compare to current halogens?

[Hey_Radar]

I'll buy them -- as long as they make a soft white light, and not the cool white that current LED flash lights use. That cool white of today's flashlights are just not natural looking.

[c|net Reader]

CFLs contain mercury, produce undesirable light, and are more expensive than incandescents. The only good thing about them is that they are supposed to be more cost effective. I've had a number fail prematurely, so I never recouped my investment in them. Others are going strong, but overall they are undesirable.

The LED based lights are desirable because they last longer, consume less energy, and can be made in a myriad of shapes. If they become price competitive and produce usable, pleasant light, I'll buy them. However, if I must invest 10 times the price up front, there had better be few detractions.

[Jahntassa]

"but anyone who's worked under halogen knows it's soul-draining"

Actually I don't mind halogens. I think the fluorescents are soul-draining. Especially the 'office-grade' ones. The soft-white-wannabe CFLs aren't too horrible.

[ajwatt12]

I have some LED puck lights installed above my computer desk and they emit that "cool white" light. I don't like them for working under but they're fine for ambient background light. To be practical as replacements for halogens, incandescents, or CFLs there will need to be development in coatings or lenses that make the light appear more natural.

[sdf0013]

Has any LED manufacturer been able to create "white" light? The science articles I read a while back said the basic problem with LED is that there is no true way to create white light with them. Since white isn't a color it's not possible to create what we perceive as white light. That's why most LED have a very blue tint. I guess if they can simply try to move the color temperature closer to 6500k it might work. Right now those LEDs in flashlights are too blue for constant use, IMO. For some tasks like outdoor flood lamps, a hallway light that you tend to leave on a lot, etc. I could get by with light that's not as white as I'd like. The CFL I use in my light fixtures (the light is behind a kind of frosted glass) works okay for me.

[Harlan879]

There are commercial LED-based lighting systems that offer about 90 CRI at (I think) about 3000 K, which is excellent. 6500 K is *extremely* blue, like the light you see when scuba diving. Standard tungsten bulbs are very yellow, at about 2700 K. I actually prefer the slightly cooler 3000 K bulbs when I buy CFLs. CFLs with a CRI of 82 are adequate, but not great. The LEDs with 90 CRI will be much better, when they become available...

[apawlak]

When you said, "anyone who's worked under halogen knows it's soul-draining," I believe you meant "fluorescent," since a halogen bulb is a specific type of tungsten incandescent bulb.