General Electric’s new Energy Smart CFL.fluorescent light is one of those things that makes you scratch your head and wonder: How the hell do they do that? A fluorescent spiral lamp into a traditional bulb?
John Strainic, global product general manager, won’t say. He just says that the manufacturing process is the result of “very advanced patents”. As you can see in the video, the fluorescent spiral is housed inside the typical incandescent light bulb glass–which will be frosted in the final version–along with the necessary electronics to make it work.
It seems to me like the typical looks-cool-but-I-don’t-know-if-it’s-useful-or-what invention that may take the market by storm or sit on shelves gathering dust forever. It will be available at Target and selected Ace Hardware stores next January, and around “Earth Day 2009″ (which in case you didn’t know–like me–is April 22) everywhere else. [GE Lighting]
blue
December 12, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I think if they are affordable they will probably be pretty popular.
Report PermalinkThere is a fantastic carousel in the center of the city i live in and they have recently changed over to using all compact fluros. It looks a bit silly really and i think these would look heaps better.
bubblesnout
December 12, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Yo dawg, we heard you like lights, so we put a light in yo’ light so you can see while you see.
Report PermalinkiNoob
December 12, 2008 at 1:26 PM
WHY are they still bothering with these types of lights?
Report PermalinkWhy not develop better brighter cheaper LED lighting packages?
As i am sure everyone that visits Giz is more then aware that there are major savings to be had with LED lighting
Read
http://www.colorkinetics.com/
for more info and those in Aus
http://www.coolon.com.au/
meinrosebud
December 13, 2008 at 9:55 PM
The easiest way to get something new accepted is to make it look like the old.
Report PermalinkPaul
January 20, 2009 at 7:02 AM
It is a great technology, but definitely not new. Litetronics has been doing it for a while now:
http://www.elightbulbs.com/
http://www.elightbulbs.com/Cold-Cathode-Screw-Base-Compact-Fluorescent-Light-Bulbs
I agree with iNoob – they should focus their time on improving LEDs and making them more affordable
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