R&D at Dutch lighting conglomerate Philips has launched an all-out assault — on one of its very own leading products. Philips is the world’s largest manufacturer of the fluorescent light fixture, that ubiquitous device that is famous, or infamous, for casting that not-so-flattering greenish tinge upon the unsuspecting.

Prototype May Double Energy-Efficiency

LED lighting has long been touted as the “next great thing” in lighting, thanks to the more natural light that consumes less energy to produce. Now, Philips has shown off a new LED prototype that is claimed to be twice as energy efficient as existing LEDs.

The tube-shaped prototype from Philips is capable of 200 lumens per watt, double the 100 lumens per watt common for conventional strip lighting. Compared to conventional incandescent light bulbs, the energy efficiency of this new innovation is even better. Those traditional bulbs typically produce only 15 lumens per watt. The new Philips LED improves upon that by over 1200 percent.

Global Impact In Several Years

Given that estimates of global electric ity production devoted to lighting typically range between 15 and 20 percent, this is no small announcement. In the United States alone, if all the existing lighting could suddenly be magically swapped out for these new Philips LEDs, the savings in both dollars and carbon dioxide emissions would be monumental.

Philips suggests such a “swap” would save $12 billion/year and prevent 50-100 million tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the air on an annual basis.

Savings are already being realized as the demise of incandescent lighting has been accelerating. However, fluorescents have been efficient enough that their replacement has been slow to arrive, even given their propensity for that greenish glow that many dislike.

2015 Availability Projected

Now, Philips’ new prototype LED, expected to be in full production by 2015, promises to change that. Philips new LEDs should be twice as efficient as typical fluorescents.

In the lighting industry, when Philips talks, analysts listen. Of the current total estimated global lighting demand of about $85 billion, Philips has over $11 billion of the market, according to consultant McKinsey.

Philips admits that these new LEDs will cost more than the bulbs that they replace. The estimated 20 year life-span also exceeds the still-impressive lifespans of current LED lighting. Those commercial enterprises that use lighting on a 24/7 basis will find the maintenance cost savings over time to be persuasive as well.

At Relumination, we are always alert to developing trends in lighting. For ideas as to how we can reduce your carbon footprint and improve your bottom line, please contact us.