Buzzword: Solid-State Lighting

What it means. Solid-state lighting, or SSL, could be the next big thing in residential lighting. SSL refers to a type of bulb—or lamp, in industry parlance—that uses the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material to generate light. The semiconductor is in a solid block form, hence “solid state.”

Because there’s no filament that heats up (and eventually burns out), SSL is up to 50 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, claim manufacturers. SSL is also said to last as much as 10 times longer than compact fluorescent lighting and contains none of the potentially harmful mercury that has brought CFLs image down to earth and made recycling them a hassle.

Why the buzz? SSL has existed for decades under the name LED, short for light-emitting diode (the semiconductor material involved is a diode). But LEDs are not the only kinds of SSL. For example, laser technology is a form of SSL, and organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, are on the horizon. As a result, the lighting industry is transitioning toward the more all-inclusive solid-state lighting moniker. “Within the broad category of TVs, you have several options, including LCD, plasma, and OLED. Similarly, solid-state lighting refers to anything that is not a conventional gas-based lighting technology,” says Govi Rao, chief executive officer of Lighting Science Group (LSG), a manufacturer of lighting equipment.

The switch to SSL might also have to do with the marketing of LEDs, which are still leading the way in this technology. For years, LEDs were limited to commercial use, for example in traffic signals and airport signage. The fact that they couldn’t generate pure white light kept them out of the residential market, except as the red indicator lights on electronic devices. But manufacturers are getting closer to a perfect white LED; LSG, for one, just launched a line of replacement LEDs (shown). Unfortunately, no matter how good the technology gets, some consumers will always associate LEDs with Lite-Brite. By giving the lights a different name, manufacturers can in a way reintroduce them to consumers.

Whatever its name, SSL is still years away from wide residential use. But it’s making steady inroads, including for undercabinet lighting. We’re currently testing these task-lighting fixtures for our August 2008 special kitchen section. Five years ago, we wouldn’t have covered SSL, but this year, it’s a theme in the story. Without giving too much away, we’ll just say that the purported efficiency of SSL is pretty solid.—Daniel DiClerico

Comments

[AreaRugs]

I just learned about the problems with compact fluorescents here at work. I work at a rug store and we had a customer call in asking about cleaning up a broken fluorescent bulb from her rug. From what I could find the rug really should probably just me thrown away. I have these things all around my house and I have two little boys. We have started taking them out from anywhere they could possibly be broken. With two little boys that is pretty much everywhere. I am surprised the media isn’t talking more about the potential danger these bulb pose.

[Jo]

How can someone invest in this technology?

[dora gonzales]

I just found out about the problem with compact flouresent today. Unfortunetly I dropped one several weeks ago. I feel the manfacture should put a red label in front of the package so the consumer can learn of the problem immiately upon purchasing the product, I know there is alot of people out there not aware of the problem like me, untill today I received an e-mail from a friend letting me know.

[Eri]

Does this mean that LED's are still the better ones when it comes to energy conservation? It's predicted that prices will drop down in the near future.

[Mark]

I just bought several from an online "green" retailer and am having them returned. The light color they definitely got right: it is directly comparable to incandescent and called "warm white" and with that I am satisfied.

The problem is that they are much dimmer than the incandescent bulbs they are compared to. For example, they compared their 5 watt bulb to a 75 watt bulb, and the 3 watt bulb to a 40 watt bulb. Their light output is much less.

This is unfortunate because I want to be more energy efficient. When advertising, the retailer should simply make a more accurate comparison so I can buy the right light to replace the ones I have. By being far dimmer than advertised, they create a poor reputation for the entire industry.

I took them at their word and did not attempt to compare lumens, which is the directly comparable measure of brightness. A 75 watt bulb emits about 1190 to 1220 lumens according to DOE, while the 5-watt LED emits only 400 lumens.

Live and learn. At least the company is willing to refund me.