Re: LED lighting

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

Markus Baertschi <markus@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>AZ Nomad wrote:
>>> How much of the power for an incandescent is turned into heat?
>> I would guess less than 98%.
>>
>>> How much for a bunch of LEDs?
>> More than 0%?
>
>I hate to disappoint you, but LED's are not much more efficient than
>incandescent lightbulbs. Both get are up to 20Lumens/Watt. Why do you
>think a 5W Lumiled needs a heatsink ? Most of it is pure marketing hype
>of vendors selling expensive LED lights.
>
>Efficient lighting today means fluorescents. They are 3-4 times as
>efficient than incandescent/LED's. The only area where LED's are more
>efficient is in the very low power area (status indicators, small
>flashlights, etc.).
>
>See http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_lighting.html for an easy to
>read article about the subject.
>
>Markus

Two recent press releases would appear to contradict your statements on LED
efficiency although both refer to research projects rather than commercial
products. I have no idea about the credibility of the Japanese scientist at
Meijo University but the LRC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has
excellent credibility.

     http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/news/pressReleases/spemethod.asp
     http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27731