light bulbs news stories on Newser

20-Year Light Bulb Now on Sale

Rob Quinn — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:59:05 CDT

An energy-saving light bulb capable of staying in service until 2032 hit the market yesterday to coincide with Earth Day. The LED light bulb—which won a $10 million US government eco-bulb prize —originally had a hefty $60 price tag but manufacturer Philips has arranged discounts and rebates to bring...

$10M Prize for Affordable Eco-Bulb Goes to ... $50 Bulb

Matt Cantor — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:24:53 CST

The US government's $10 million "L Prize" was supposed to go to a manufacturer that developed an affordable low-energy light bulb, but the Philips LED bulb that won—now available for purchase—will set you back $50. LED bulbs similar to the "L Prize" winner can cost less than half...

4 Products Going the Way of the Dodo

Sarah Whitmire — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:08:42 CDT

Another casualty of the recession could be your favorite deodorant: As consumers flock toward store brands and stores in turn look to downsize, the result is the death of some of America's best-known consumer products, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. "As we shrink the size of stores, a number of products...

'Green' Bulbs Release Toxins, Carginogens

Evann Gastaldo — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 06:51:37 CDT

Paging Stephen Colbert : There's apparently a new reason to be wary of energy-saving lightbulbs. In a new report, scientists in Germany warn that compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) emit carcinogenic chemicals and toxins—including phenol, naphthalene, and styrene—when turned on, resulting in what one scientists describes as "electrical smog." Because...

How Big Government Actually Helps Innovation

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:50:20 CST

Last week, Michele Bachmann introduced a bill to repeal the energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, because, as she said, the “government has no business telling an individual what kind of lightbulb to buy.” She’s not the only conservative politician who’s upset (see here and here ). All the complainers are...

Thanks to Obama, My Toilet Won't Flush: Rand Paul

Matt Cantor — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:07:53 CST

Sen. Rand Paul yesterday ripped into the Energy Department's efficiency rules, which he says require Americans to buy poorly-flushing toilets and unwanted light bulbs, reports USA Today . "My toilets don't work in my house. And I blame you and people like you who want to tell me what I can...

Are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Junk?

Kevin Spak — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:35:34 CDT

Compact fluorescent light bulbs cost a little more than regular bulbs, but they’re supposed to last for 10,000 hours, cut your electric bill, and, incidentally, help save the planet. But buyers are finding a disturbing number of bulbs that last hours, not years, the New York Times reports. “It’s...

Brits Hunt for Oldest Bulb

Harry Kimball — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:12:00 CST

The UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry has offered a $700 prize for the lucky Briton who turns up with the oldest working light bulb in the nation, the Telegraph reports. The society hopes the search will produce a bulb even older than the current world record holder—a lamp that...

What's the Next Bright Idea for Light Bulbs?

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:50:29 CST

Retailers will be banned from selling inefficient incandescent bulbs in 2012, but manufacturers say their bright idea about compact fluorescents came years ago and the industry was heading in that direction anyway. In fact, the coming years will see a wave of more efficient light sources—not only flourescents, but...