Let there be light and there be light. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a $ 3 LED bulb that is 12 times more efficient than a conventional incandescent lamp, three times more efficient than energy-saving bulbs. The LED lights up instantly and has a lifespan of 100 hours, or 000 and a half years if on continuously.
This bright discovery could reduce the electricity bill of a three-quarters home. In fact, if the whole world replaced its light bulbs with these LEDs, the proportion of electricity consumption to light would change from 20 to 5%.
The researchers made sure not to use any toxic materials, such as lead: the new LEDs use Gallium Nitride (for the radiating nanofilament), which until then had a fortune to obtain because it had to push on sapphire patties which amounted to producing bulbs for 28 $ each.
The new method, developed by the University of Cambridge Center for Gallium Nitride, uses silicon wafers, reducing the cost of producing a single-piece 3 bulb. And what we particularly like is that the future of these little wonders is close: prototypes are already in production and superLED could invade the market by only 2 years.
http://www.gizmodo.fr/2009/01/30/fiat-l ... 2-ans.html