GE Launches Incandescent-Shaped CFL Bulb
Do you like the environmental friendliness of CFL bulbs but also enjoy the shape of incandescent bulbs? GE has a solution — the world’s first incandescent-shaped CFL bulb. The 8,000-hour CFL is guaranteed for 5 years based on 4 hours of daily use.
The CFL bulb is placed inside of a typical incandescent bulb glass which will be frosted in the final product.
GE will debut the 9 and 20 watt versions of the bulb at Ace Hardware and Target in January. The bulb will be released widely in the Spring, and a 100 watt version should be available in 2010.
Photo Credit: GE
Ariel, do you have any information on the “leading edge patents” mentioned in the video? I’d be curious to learn more.
Thanks!
Justin - Unfortunately the patents appear to be a mystery. Sorry I can’t help more!
While it might not seem that the shape of this product should make much difference, it does. I’ve heard a number of people in the hardware store comment that the current CFLs look funny and they put them back on the shelf. Hopefully this will serve to expand the market.
I think that this is a great idea - however, if they insist on excessive packaging in those massive clamshells like all the other CFLs come in—I won’t be buying. An environmentally responsible design should not come in a wasteful package. I wonder how much energy is actually saved when considering the amount of packaging waste for the product which is immediately thrown out - I bought 12 bulbs and had a half garbage bag of waste. I know people like to see a product but couldn’t smart packaging do this as well as being responsible?
I also wonder if these can be dimmed - I put dimmers everywhere and have been using normal 40 Watt bulbs for a year and about 30 % of the total wattage - they last forever on a dimmer and better quality light.
Standard CFLs cannot be dimmed, but you can buy dimmable CFLs. I assume the early models of this will not be dimable.
The advantage of this, in addition to ascetics is the size, standard CFLs are a lot longer bc of the electonics; especially dimable ones, which are more expensive and I have found to be very unsatisfactory.. the technology for them is a ways off. There are energy saving dimables but you are still looking at 40 watts
echofilm said, “There are energy saving dimables but you are still looking at 40 watts.”
…so I am wondering, what is the advantage of CFLs over using a normal 40 W bulb on a dimmer? I get really nice light and they last roughly a year in most cases as I am using them at less than 50 % most of the time and shut them off or use timers.
Also, what do people think of the excessive clamshell packaging? I personally cannot believe the waste from purchasing a CFL and have never seen one in cardboard packaging and multiplying each by millions—how much energy is wasted on the packaging?
Uh…where has everybody been? the CFL’s are loaded with mercury..which is a disaster for the environment. Read what the EPA says you should do if one breaks..(http://epa.gov/mercury/spills/)
These are over now because of LED technology which is already in streetlamps.
The first LED bulbs are coming out now..no mercury and 10+ year true life. Not 1 year that CFL’s actually last contrary to the 10 year claim on the packaging…
CFL’s are dead. Deal with it.
An amazingly stupid idea.
Let’s take a design that is energy efficient, and wrap it in unneeded glass (more waste than the clamshell packaging), and then frost it, to make sure we lose yet more energy as heat.
Brilliant.
I have yet to have one single CFL last its rated lifespan. Not even close. I still use them because they still save way more than there cost in electricity but Grrr that makes me mad.
anyway the biggest issue is HEAT. how exactly are they dumping the “heat” that will KILL that electronics package efficiently being sealed in a glass ball?
World’s first? Really? Ikea (and many other places) has (have) been selling CFLs like that for years.