LED Price Reduction by Jim Parks on Creators.com

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LED Price Reduction

Editor's Note: The Today's Green Minute column is not available this week. The following column originally was published in November 2009.

Panasonic's LEDs received some nice buzz at the Japanese electronics fair, CEATEC — and it all centers around price. In 2008, Toshiba highlighted a 60-watt equivalent LED that ran for $90 and a 100-watt equivalent for $360. That's steep for lighting, even considering that LEDs consume a fraction of the power required for standard bulbs.

In 2009, Panasonic brought the 60-watt equivalent (which lasts 40,000 hours and uses only 6 watts) down to about half of what it was a year earlier.

The severe price drop is attributed to several things: One, when new electronics become mass-produced, they become cheaper to make.

Two, small and agile companies have started to challenge big manufacturers with lower prices. And three, incandescent light bulbs are about to be phased out, with Europe and Australia leading the way.

So, Edison's vacuum tube celebrated its 130th birthday — just before its demise.

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at jrparks@mac.com. To view the online "Today's Green Minute" videos, go to http://todaysgreenminute.com/. To find out more about Jim Parks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.