US firm touts LED breakthrough

A US firm is preparing a super-efficient LED light that it says could deliver dramatic cost savings for businesses.

LED Lighting Fixtures Inc said this week that the prototype PAR 38 lamp doubles the efficiency of its commercially sold bulb, the LR6, and uses just 9 per cent of the energy of traditional incandescent lighting. Unlike the LR6, which comes as a whole fixture, the PAR 38 will be just a bulb replacement, making it easier to install in offices, the company added.

"If you're using our products, you'll save a dollar per light per month on the electric bill," said chief financial officer Cynthia Merrell, although she added that companies must also factor in maintenance costs. "The biggest customer base we have right now is hotels and restaurants – commercial places."

The new LED lights have a life of 50,000 hours compared with 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb, meaning that they will last for 23 years if used for six hours each day.

LED lights cost much more than their incandescent counterparts. The existing LR6, which should be available in a 220-volt version in Europe within six months, sells for between $75 and $100, depending on volume. But based on longevity and power efficiency, it would deliver savings over incandescent bulbs within two years, said Merrell. The new PAR 38 will cut that time by around 40 per cent, according to the company.

The prototype bulb, which uses patent pending technology the firm will not discuss, produces 659 lumens of energy while using 5.8 watts of power. That represents 113.6 lumens per watt. In comparison, a 60-watt lightbulb produces roughly 850 lumens, giving it an efficiency of 14.5 lumens per watt.