5 Reasons Why You Might Buy a $50 Light Bulb

Incandescent light bulbs will be phased out in 2014. Some will say bye-bye and good riddance, while others are still holding out for a mercury-free eco-alternative to CFL’s. But, there’s a new kid on the block that might fulfill everyone’s dreams.

General Electric has a new LED nine-watt bulb that is energy-efficient, has a 22,500 hour life span (twice the amount as a CFL), and to sweeten the pot even more, this bulb called the Energy Smart, will be healthier (see benefits below).

The catch: Start saving your pennies folks because this beauty costs $50.

Here are 6 reasons why you might be willing to pay more than you ever thought for a light bulb :

The Benefits of the Energy Smart LED Bulb:

1. It will last at least 17 years when used four hours a day.

2. It gives off light in all directions. It’s omnidirectional.

3. It uses 10 percent less energy than a 40 watt equivalent bulb.

4. There’s no mercury or other toxic junk floating around inside.

5. GE’s bulb has eight fins that run down the side. The bulb is designed to disperse light more evenly and take away heat, which is important for an LED to live a long life.

6. According to GE, if every American household bought just one, we’d save almost $400 million in energy costs and prevent 5 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in one year.

Will this bulb be on your holiday list this year? Would you buy a $50.00 light bulb? Illuminate us with your thoughts about whether or not you think this is a green investment worth doling out your hard-earned bucks for.

Find out more about the Energy Smart LED Bulb.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Neil A.

3:29AM PDT on Jun 21, 2012

I do not think many will buy at this price. & only 10% more efficient it does not sound like an LED, which are much more efficient.

June 21
send a green star

3:26AM PDT on Jun 21, 2012

Why does Care2 let people without profiles post here ie. Charles W. also irrelevant mad rubbish.

Cecilia L.

5:26AM PDT on Jun 20, 2012

i just bought 6 LED's bulbs from Cellphoneshope" ya, who would think a phone company".
the cost was about $7.49 each on sale 20% off they came from china ...now do i think they are safe and reliable ? time will tell. You need to get use to the color it's more of a blue hue than yellow. one more thing two of the bulbs had to be returned did not work (CHINA?)
hopefully the new ones will hold up. Always trying to save money and go green.

June 20
send a green star

Michele W.

4:14AM PST on Jan 2, 2012

Thank you

January 2
send a green star

Lynn C.

9:07AM PST on Jan 1, 2012

C'mon, $50.00? When I'm just eking by? Shoot, I may not even have a roof over my head, a table to put it on, or the lamp to screw it into, and they want this much money for one bulb? I can't see this really taking off, can you?
Well, to get off a personal level, at least they're working on technology that might make some difference in climate change. Never mind that it will be several decades too late.

January 1
send a green star

Barbara D.

8:59AM PST on Jan 1, 2012

Maybe it's me, but as we use these new bulbs more and more, we will get use to seeing them and hopefully they will get more affordable in due time, the sooner the better.

Catherine H.

10:30AM PDT on Oct 9, 2011

If I have to pay $50.00 for these safer alternatives to fluorescents I'll do so, but gosh, can't the price be lowered to at least $35.00? Personally, fluorescents are the bain of my life as they give me migraines that take the guise of a seizure. Totally disabling to me. I know too that I'm not the only person to suffer as such from these nasty kinds of lights - ban ALL fluorescent lights. They are dangerous and change the color of all that they touch.

October 9
send a green star

Peter D.

3:50AM PDT on May 18, 2011

... and a good reason you might not want to buy any LED whatever the price:

LEDs - like CFLs before them- have recently been found to have serious home breakage and disposal concerns, having lead, arsenic and toxic vapor content,
according to University of California (Davis and Irvine) research
http://ceolas.net/#li20ledx

They suggest wearing safety protection when LED breakage occurs and that the bulbs should be recycled.

They also maintain that there was insufficient product testing
before LED bulbs came onto the market. There was a law that was supposed to take effect on January 1 that would have mandated such testing, but it was opposed and blocked by industry groups, and has been put on hold...