Philips has announced a breakthrough in LED lighting after developing a TLED prototype that produces twice as much light as traditional fluorescent lamps using the same amount of energy.
While fluorescent lights on average produce 100 lumens per watt (lm/W), the TLED lamps generate 200 lm/W, making them the most energy efficient to date. The new model is superior even to old-school light bulbs, which typically emit only 151 lm/W. This marks the first time lighting engineers have been able to reach 200 lm/W efficiency without compromising light quality, Philips says.
“This again is a major breakthrough in LED lighting and will further drive the transformation of the lighting industry,” said Rene van Schooten, CEO of Light Sources & Electronics for Philips Lighting. “It’s exciting to imagine the massive energy and cost savings it will bring to our planet and customers.”
Lighting accounts for more than 19 percent of the world’s total energy consumption and fluorescent lights currently consume nearly 200 terawatts of electricity annually, according to Philips. Replacing these with the new TLEDs would reduce energy consumption by 100 terawatts each year, save the U.S. $12 billion and prevent around 60 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
The TLED lamps are intended to replace fluorescent tube lighting used in offices and industry, which accounts for more than half of the world’s total lighting demand. Commercial consumers should expect to see TLEDs hit the market in 2015.
In 2011, Philips won $10 million in cash from the U.S. Department of Energy for designing an LED bulb to replace the standard 60-watt light bulb, the most widely used types of light bulbs that represent roughly half of the domestic incandescent light bulb market.
Published Apr 11, 2013 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT / 1am BST / 2am CEST
Mike Hower
Mike Hower is a sustainability communicator and connector committed to helping purpose-driven businesses and people unlock their full potential for positive impact. As founder and principal consultant at Hower Impact, he works with companies to translate sustainability strategy into stories that inform, engage and inspire investors, customers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders in the service of social, environmental and business goals. Through his Impact Hired initiative, he works to connect and engage corporate sustainability professionals at all stages of their careers. (read more ...)
