the future of lighting - with LED

OLUMBIA - In 2012, the federal government will end the sale of incandescent light bulbs. A more energy efficient light bulb is taking its place.
LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, first showed up in products such as the 1970s calculators or other devices with red dot displays. As illumination devices, they have made their way into homes in the forms of flashlights and Christmas lights. Now, LED bulbs may take over all of the lighting jobs in the average house.
"They're much smaller," MU sustainability coordinator Steve Burdic said. "They don't take as much energy for the light to come out of them."
People could see their energy bill drop if they switch to LED bulbs, but it depends on the household.
"A lot of a person's budget depends on someone's own personal habits," Columbia Water and Light spokesperson Connie Kacprowicz said.
People with big houses and lots of lights will notice the biggest difference on the bill. Commercial customers will notice the difference right away.
"If you have a grocery store or a restaurant where there are going to be lights on almost 24 hours a day and you are going to be using a lot of lights, we find that it can make a big difference to switch over to energy efficient lighting," Kacprowicz said.
For the University of Missouri, a switch to LED bulbs may leave more money in its bank account.
"A lot of the exit signs, we're looking at them and seeing how those work," Burdic said. "Some of them, I believe, some of the outdoor lighting, area lighting is also being tested."
According to MU campus facilities, LED exit signs use less than five watts of power and last over ten years, with an annual electric cost of $3.50 per sign.
Incandescent exit signs, on the other hand, consume up to 40 watts of power and can require replacement up to 18 times a year, with an annual electric cost of $28 per sign.
LED bulbs last much longer than either of their CFL or incandescent cousins and as much as 50 times longer than a tungsten bulb. LEDs also do not contain any mercury.
The public now has access to the new technology. Lowe's hardware stores just received LED light bulbs last week.
"We wouldn't be carrying them unless it's a very popular product," Lowe's Assistant Store Manager Darin Glover said. "People are demanding them, so we are going to get them for them."
LED lights sound appealing, but the price tag might scare some people off. A 45 watt bulb costs nearly $40.
"It's really a matter of waiting for that technology and the cost to go down," Kacprowicz said.
LEDs may be stuck on the shelf for now, but they have a bright future ahead.
Reported by: Emily Spain