Nanoleaf integrates art with science to increase LED adoption

Nanoleaf integrates art with science to increase LED adoption

Earth Day comes once a year not only to remind us about issues such as climate change, carbon emissions and water scarcity, but also to offer up some much-needed solutions to these global problems.

Global warming, one of today’s biggest issues, may seem like an overwhelming concept that is impossible to fight. However, people’s day-to-day choices can make a significant difference. If one person takes action, another will follow suit. If no one takes action, everything will stay the same indefinitely.

The primary factor contributing to climate change is the increasing amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere. These emissions are mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels to generate energy. While it is impossible to eliminate the use of electricity altogether, it is very possible to reduce the amount of energy that we consume. Making small changes every day can make a big difference in the long term.

One of the easiest ways to cut down on your energy consumption is to switch out your old inefficient light bulbs with highly efficient LED bulbs. Nanoleaf, a green technology startup focused on creating the world’s most energy-efficient light bulbs, has created a new LED bulb that makes reducing your carbon footprint easier than ever before. Although most green-minded individuals are well aware of the benefits of LED bulbs, there are many who are less inclined to switch over from incandescent lighting.

Earth Day launch: Nanoleaf Gem

Nanoleaf gem light bulb
The Nanoleaf Gem light bulb integrates energy-efficient lighting with art and design.

The interior design industry has traditionally favoured the warm look and feel of incandescent light bulbs; however, these bulbs are the least energy-efficient option available today. The Nanoleaf Gem, which is officially launching today on Earth Day, is Nanoleaf’s solution to integrating energy-efficient lighting with art and design. Featuring a stunning dodecahedron shape with a frosted white glass finish, the bulb resonates as an eco art piece rather than just another energy-saving light bulb. The Nanoleaf Gem is an LED bulb that will actually get artists and designers excited about energy efficiency.

Mirroring the warm look and feel of an incandescent bulb, but with the power efficiency of an LED, the Nanoleaf Gem is a 40-watt-equivalent LED bulb that uses only five watts of energy to produce 470 lumens (94 lumens per watt). Lasting 30 times longer than a typical incandescent bulb—25,000 hours versus only 1,500 hours for an incandescent—the bulb also has its own heat dissipation system that eliminates the need for a heat sink. (Overheating is one of the main factors that decreases a light bulb’s life span.) Nanoleaf Gem’s longevity and efficiency mean that a substantial amount of energy will be saved over time. The bulb also eliminates 1,268,000 CO2 emissions over its lifetime and saves 72,000,000 gallons of water (based on a figure of 10 bulbs per household for 100 houses).

Considering that lighting makes up 37% of all CO2 emissions in the United States, any electrical savings in lighting could have a significant impact on the environment. Ideally, everyone would switch to LED lighting in order to lower the world’s overall carbon footprint, but LED adoption has been slow due to factors such as harsh light output and undesirable esthetics. In order to speed up and increase the use of LED bulbs, companies need to do more than simply provide energy-efficient products—they need to offer energy-efficient products that are consumer friendly and that will appeal to various markets.

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