Some current members of Congress may be trying to rescue the energy-sucking incandescent light bulb, but just four years ago, the 110th U.S. Congress decided to create a contest that would inspire the development of its ultra-efficient replacement.
The Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize, also known as the L Prize, received its first victor this week: Philips Lighting has taken the top award, netting a $10 million cash prize and bragging rights for being the contest’s first and only competitor to meet its high expectations.
The winning product may hit store shelves next year. It uses less than 10 watts to generate as much light as the standard 60-watt incandescent light bulb it was designed to replace, which translates to energy savings of about 83 percent. It also lasts about 25,000 hours, compared to 2,000 for its standard counterpart.
The bulb went through extensive testing in a lab, as well as in the field, including in food sales, food service, healthcare, lodging, office, residential and retail setting.
With the 60-watt incandescent being one of the most widely-used light bulb on the market, Philips and other manufacturers have raced to find its more efficient equivalent since the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In addition to creating the L Prize and several other energy efficiency and security measures, the bill effectively banned the manufacture and import of most current incandescent light bulbs.
A number of potential replacements now on the market include Philips AmbientLED, ($40); Sylvania’s Indoor Soft White (39.98), and Lemnis Lighting’s Pharox III ($27 at Amazon.com).
