Is Any Light Bulb Worth $25?

The phasing out of the incandescent light bulb is due to begin in 2012 and go on through 2014. Poor Thomas Edison is probably rolling over in his grave!

Why is the bulb as we know it due for oblivion? Because less than 10% of its energy gets converted to light and the balance is just heat. Supposedly more efficient bulbs will save us billions of dollars, decrease our need for oil, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

This change puts the burden on light bulb makers to come up with better solutions than what they have invented so far. The compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have flaws such as a dim gray light that flickers, inability to fit in older fixtures or be used with dimmer switches, and the more serious problem of containing mercury so that you cannot just throw them into the trash and must take them to specified depositories such as at home improvement stores.

Philips' AMBIENT LED is supposedly one answer, but that is the bulb that costs $25. Benefits include that it produces warm light with the 60-watt bulb and only draws 12.5 watts and it is said to last two decades. It is also an odd shape, which is a fluted aluminum tube with orange plastic panels. General Electric predicts that this price will drop to $10 within the next three years.

Many companies are switching to LEDs already to reduce energy costs. This includes Starbucks which has placed them in 8,000 locations.

But will the public accept such light bulbs when they can currently purchase a four-pack of incandescent bulbs for approximately $1.00 to $1.50?

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