CLEVELAND, OHIO—General Electric has unveiled its new 40-watt LED bulb that will last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, which are being phased out in the United States.
The bulb, part of GE’s Energy Smart line, will last more than 25,000 hours, compared to the typical 1,000-hour lifespan of incandescent bulbs. When used for three hours a day (the average used by Energy Star for comparing bulb performance), the GE 40-watt LED would last close to 23 years. At four hours per day, the average GE uses, it would last 17 years.
The bulb consumes 9 watts of energy, produces the same amount of light as a 40-watt incandescent bulb, and was designed to direct light downward and to the sides, instead of just in one direction as some LED bulbs do.
GE plans to start selling the bulb later this year or early next year for $40 to $50, and it expects it to meet Energy Star criteria. The bulb produces 450 lumens, the amount required by Energy Star to be considered an equivalent of 40-watt incandescents. Most current LED bulbs produce 350 lumens.
Cree is providing the LEDs for the bulb, and the two companies will be showing off the new bulb at the upcoming Light + Building 2010 and LightFair 2010 trade shows.
Go to General Electric.
