On the 10th anniversary of lighting the Times Square Ball for New Year’s Eve, Philips Electronics is including more LED lights in the ball and 2010 numerals, achieving a 78% energy savings.
In 2007, Philips converted the ball’s lights from incandescent and halogen bulbs to LED technology. This year, Philips custom designed 545 scalloped LED flood light bulbs for the 2010 numerals that use only 9 watts compared to 40 watts consumed by the older incandescent and halogen bulbs. The 2010 LED bulbs were designed for outdoor use and are expected to last for 25,000 hours in the Times Square application.
Sustainability of the celebration has been augmented by Duracell’s Smart Power Lab in Times Square, where the public was invited to pedal a Power Rover to generate energy that has been stored in giant Duracell batteries that will power the 2010 numerals when the ball drops at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Scientists have been studying LEDs for decades. The foundations for LEDs were discovered in the early 1900s and commercial applications were created in the 1960s for use as indicator lights. Development of LED technology has propelled LEDs into a brighter, longer-lasting and more energy-efficient light source than conventional lighting.
The efficiency of LED lighting is touted in a December white paper by Cree Inc. Cree says results from several recent studies show that LEDs are likely the most efficient, greenest option for many high-volume lighting applications. At least one study has found that LEDs outshine incandescent light bulbs in lifecycle assessment.
One private company, LED Saving Solutions provides businesses of all sizes and types and property owners and lessees relief from exorbitant utility and maintenance costs associated with lighting. LED Saving Solutions provides lighting upgrades with LED lights that reduce electricity demand by up to 80 percent, allowing a business or property owner or lessee to reduce costs immediately as well as a means to reduce a facility's carbon footprint.
The applications for LED lights are also evolving outside of commercial applications. For example, even LED wallpaper has been created by British firm Lomox. A coating containing LEDs on the paper can even be dimmed with a switch, according to elightbulbs.com. Scientists are even studying how to combat wrinkles using LED light and green tea.
