The team of GE scientists, engineers and product managers responsible for development of the company’s first general service household LED bulb—a 9-watt GE Energy Smart® LED bulb with a unique omni-directional light output meant to replace a 40-watt incandescent bulb in desk, bedside or hallway lamps—celebrated the bulb’s designation last week (December 2, 2010) as the first standard incandescent shaped (A-line) LED bulb to earn an ENERGY STAR rating.
“Our dedicated technologists are constantly pushing to innovate”
“Our dedicated technologists are constantly pushing to innovate,” says Anh Marella, product manager, GE Lighting. “The ENERGY STAR designation tells consumers this is a bulb that can be expected to perform as promised. That’s the essence of this news. It’s a quality and reliability story that’s cause for celebration.”
The new LED bulb provides a soft white light (3,000K) and a 77-percent energy savings compared with a 40-watt incandescent bulb. ENERGY STAR® tests found that the new GE LED bulb produced 471 lumens, a light-output measurement that exceeds the 450 lumens required by ENERGY STAR® to be considered a 40-watt incandescent replacement. Based on 3 hours of use per day, the GE LED bulb is rated to last over 22 years. It features instant full brightness like incandescent and halogen bulbs.
The GE Energy Smart® 9-watt LED has a unique fin-like design, allowing it to direct light downward on the intended surface and all around, not just out the top of the lampshade. The fins surrounding the bulb help to keep it cool by drawing out heat, which also keeps the bulb’s surface cooler to the touch.
“Some consumers are used to seeing ‘snow cone’ shaped LED incandescent replacements, but none of these bulbs provide the incandescent-like, all-around light that ENERGY STAR requires,” notes Marella.
The appearance of GE’s new A-line LED bulb—including its white- rather than yellow-colored glass envelope when turned off—mirrors the clean, white color that consumers are accustomed to seeing and using with traditional light bulbs. “As always, the GE bulb is designed with an eye toward reliability, performance and consumer acceptance,” adds Marella.
The new LED bulb is available at www.gelighting.com/na/energysmartLED. In January, the bulb will be sold at retail alongside GE Energy Smart® LED spotlight and specialty bulbs (e.g., candle and globe shapes) that have been available to consumers for a couple years.
ENERGY STAR® is an environmental labeling program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.