With better aesthetics, filament LEDs could help speed the switch from the 7 billion incandescent lamps still lighting the planet. Lighting demand is expected to rise 50 percent in the next two decades as poorer countries gain more access to power, according to the United Nations. Switching to LEDs could offset some of that increase, avoiding the release of more than 390 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.
It’s still difficult for consumers to tell the difference between an incandescent bulb and a filament LED, and manufacturers like GE say they need to do more to promote the benefits of this growing market.
“LED has been a tricky sell because you have to teach consumers and retailers about the technology,” said Matt Sommers, consumer innovation manager at GE Lighting. “We can’t just assume that they can look at it and know what it is.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.