14 DAY TRIAL // Since we won't be able to find traditional incandescent bulbs in shops starting September 2012, this plan has given green light to a quest aiming to explore the most efficient substitutes.
Innovative Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) seem to provide the best answers to this problem and represent the favorite options of environmentalists and governments worldwide, the Guardian reports.
There is a lot at stake. Experts estimate that the global lightning industry will be worth no less than €110bn ($145bn) nine years from now on.
This amount is more than enough to captivate the interest of major companies like Phillips, GE, and Osram that are currently scaling up efforts to get their hands on a fair share of the profit.
The main challenge experienced by these enterprises is to improve the energy-efficiency of LEDs, while making its quality levels comparable with those displayed by incandescent bulbs.
It appears that this time the results obtained by giants are exceeded by small companies like UK-based Zeta, which managed to fill its pockets with £450,000 (€531,793/$701,010) in a governmental challenge, due to its innovative LifeBulb, currently priced at £20 (€23.6/ $31.15).
Despite its high price tag, developers say homeowners will be able to recoup their investment in no time, since a home equipped with 25 new LEDs can save up to £232.25 ($361.79/€274.46) on an annual basis.
There is more good news. Zeta representatives say their solution for a bright sustainable future has zero negative impact on clients’ health, since their innovative product contains rare earths, but only in small quantities that do not represent a threat.
The new item will start being commercialized on a large scale starting next year, and its manufacturers can guarantee the dangerous precedent represented by CFL's hazardous mercury concentration will not be repeated.