First LEDs now Electron Stimulated Luminescence? At only $14.98.
by Matthew Grocoff, Esq. LEED Green Associate
In December 2011, Lowes will begin carrying a new Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL) R30 light bulb by Vu1 Corporation. The flood light is expected to retail for $14.98.
ESL sounds like a cool alternative to the CFL, and it’s a bit cheaper than comparable LEDs . . . but don’t confuse price with cost. I think the new generations of LEDs have already got this bulb beat in energy savings and life cycle cost.
Like LEDs the ESL bulb is mercury free and dimmable.
Here’s the specs: 600 lumens (same as typical indoor 60 watt flood) and 2800 Kelvin (warm color temp). But here’s where it diverges from the new LEDs (so far Philips Ambient LEDs from Home Depot are my favorites, but Sylvania is right on their tail):
Watts: ESL = 19.5 w vs. LED = only 12 w
Lifespan: ESL = only 11,000 hours vs LED = 25,000
So, for a bit higher purchase price the LED will use 7 watts less and last more than 10 years longer. My money is on the LEDs to win this race.
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December 1st, 2011 at 9:52 pm
What constitutes “a bit higher price”? You gave some nice cold,hard numbers on the watts and lifespan, but not on the cost of the competition.
A quick check shows the LED retailing at $49 for a 2 pack, so let’s say $24.50 each.
ESL to LED Comparison:
19 – 12.5 watts = 52% BETTER Energy Efficiency
11,000 to 25,000 lifespan = 127% LIFESPAN lifespan
14.98 to 24.50 = 63% more expensive.
The only remaining variable: which production method can come down in price the most, while scaling up to industrial levels of production? If increased volume brings the price of the ESL down to $10 per unit, the win goes to the ESL.
December 12th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Hi Rob-
I like your math. No arguments. ESL lights are in their infancy and this is just a “heads up” to our readers.
At the Appropriate Technology Collaborative we are getting raw LEDs (not in fixtures) for 80 cents for a one watt LED (EBAY). The LEDs are rated for about 110 lumens which is very good. We are now in business setting up light manufacturing in developing countries where raw LEDs and circuit boards are soldered up and combined with a very inexpensive jar (glass, like a Ball jar) we make our own light bulbs. The cost of labor – and we make sure people make a living wage – is still pretty low so our cost per “light bulb” is now very low. The ESL is not configured well to compete with this application.
Check Out: http://apptechdesign.org/design-and-prototype-of-solar-replacement-for-kerosene-lamps/