LED Lighting Prices Continue to Drop

With each passing day the LED market is becoming more and more accessible to the wider audience. This story has been told before with the CFL, and the lesson will be considered when these new bulbs are looking for their break.

The CFL was rushed to stores nationwide. Some countries even cleared the way by banning traditional incandescent bulbs from their retail stores. In many areas, consumers rejected these new spiral shaped bulbs for, honestly, a lot of good reasons. Products have standards it must meet. For many, the limitations and unreliability of CFL's alongside its higher price tag prevented the seamless transition CFL producers were looking for.

All of this comotion might be the best thing to happen to the emerging LED market. Consumers have already experienced the initial backlash and stubborness for change with the CFL, and it will now have a product that will include all the benefits of the CFL (except their better) and without the very acceptable claims they made in opposition.

Lemnis Lighting, featured today in the New York Times blog, Green Inc, has a 6 watt bulb coming out later this year for $50.00. It would replace a 40 watt incandescent, contains zero mercury, is heat resistant, uses up to 90% less energy than an incandescent bulb, and it is proposed to last for 25 years with average use. Sounds fairly remarkable.

The only obstruction is price. Which has come down dramatically over the past few months. This drop might be attributed to companies manufacturing their products with less quality control which is definitely a thorn in the side of the CFL industry. However, the drive for lower pricing will aide the consumer as it has always done.

If you have installed CFL's throughout your home, and you're happy with them, keep them. LED's are still a few years away. Pricing still must drop, and manufacturing reliability must rise if the prices remain high. But, they are coming. That much we know.