For years now, LEDs(1) have been heralded as the heir to old-school incandescent(2) lightbulbs and the better option than compact fluorescents(3). Yet, despite some serious advantages, such as much improved energy efficiency and a decades-long lifespan, the technology has not quite lived up to expectations as the ultimate lighting source.
While the high upfront cost of LED bulbs relative to traditional ones is often cited as a hindrance for some folks—though proponents have long argued it ends up being cost-effective in the long run—the most glaring issue, as lighting experts have pointed out, is a phenomenon referred to as “efficiency droop”. Whereby efforts to increase a bulb’s electrical output to where it can adequately brighten large spaces as living rooms have also caused it to be less and less energy-efficient, sometimes to the point where it cancels out much of the purported financial benefits.
Add to that more heat, which consequently reduces the bulb’s lifespan, and you have the main reason why LED models typically max out at a brightness range equal to that of mid-range 60 watt incandescents.
Three friends from the University of Toronto who share an enthusiasm for sustainable products are out to offer a solution, namely “Nano-Light”. Gimmy Chu, Tom Rodinger, and Christian Yan have come up with a bulb design that apparently fixes the efficiency droop issue.
The trio’s “breakthrough” invention not only offers an output of 1,600 lumens, equivalent to a 100 W incandescent lightbulb, it does so while operating at incredibly low power-sipping rating of 12 W. In fact, they claim that the NanoLight is the world’s most efficient lightbulb.
NanoLight products claim to have addressed the LED heat issues, and are also billed as omnidirectional; meaning it is specifically engineered to shine light in all directions, as opposed to just in the middle of the bulb as other LED lights. This is a common goal for household lighting. Other bullet points include instant-on (a standard benefit for LEDs over CFLs) and completely eliminating the need for a heat sink.
NanoLight claims to be 87% more efficient than a standard incandescent and it uses 50% less energy than a compact fluorescent. NanoLight LEDs are directly attached to a printed circuit board that is folded to resemble the stereotypical lightbulb shape, albeit in a “funky” abstract design. The product testing has shown that the LEDs withstand the heat issues within this format.
NanoLight was originally launched through a campaign with Kickstarter, a global crowd-funding company aiming to bring funding to creative ideas through crowd contribution. The campaign was very successful, and the product received immense backup from thousands of backers.
Currently on the market, NanoLight is being sold under the name “Nanoleaf”, and has gained much popularity due to its efficiency and sustainable design. The company’s goal is nothing short of changing the world—one lightbulb at a time.
“We center every aspect of our work at the NanoLight on creating higher energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and creating ecological value in all of our products”, the Company says in its mission statement “At the most fundamental level, our purpose is to create energy-efficient LED lighting that is innovative and economical, so that our planet can have a brighter future”.
Nanoleaf comes in three models, in addition to the 12-W Nanoleaf, a 10-W Nanoleaf (75-W equivalent), and a 12-W NanoLight (1800+ Lumens). These three models are available in 120V AC and 220–240V AC versions to cater to different geographic regions. A dimmable model is also available now on the Company’s website. With a price range of USD 20–40, the Company assures its customers that the price will pay itself in energy savings over its 25–30 years lifespan.
.jpg)
Glossary
- LED is a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) product that is assembled into a lamp or a lightbulb for use in lighting fixtures.
- Incandescent lightbulb is an electric light, which produces light with a wire filament heated to a high temperature by an electric current passing through it until it glows. The hot filament is protected from oxidation with a glass or quartz bulb that is filled with inert gas or evacuated.
- Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps. The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic ballast in the base of the lamp.
References
www.zdnet.com
www.gizmag.com
http://shop.nanoleaf.me/
http://mashable.com/2013/02/24/nanolight/