LED lights break new ground
In 2007, Congress passed a law mandating the phaseout of traditional incandescent light bulbs by 2014. Used for the past 150 years, Edison’s invention will soon be no more.
With this in mind, I’ve kept my eye on LED technology, watching it go from a promising prospect to a viable reality. The latest LED innovation is the Acriche (pronounced aak’ rish) bulb, the first AC-driven LED on the market.
This is significant. Most LEDs are DC-driven, meaning they need a converter to run on standard electrical current. The downside of this is converters drive up the cost of LEDs and, when placed in a confined space, heat can build up, creating the potential for fire while shortening the converter’s (and bulb’s) lifespan.
You also lose 15 percent to 20 percent efficiency by having to convert AC to DC with your LEDs, says Doug Hardman, North American strategic marketing director for Seoul Semiconductor, the fourth-largest LED manufacturer and maker of the light source for AC-driven LEDs.
The Acriche AC-driven LED bulb, on the other hand, can connect directly to a 110- or 220-volt outlet without any converter. It’s more reliable and its long lifespan makes it cost less than traditional lighting.
The Acriche bulb looks like a traditional light bulb. Designed and created by Next Generation Lighting Supply (NGL Supply), which produces LED lighting products for residential, business and commercial signage, this American-built, single-point light was designed as accent lighting around pictures and artwork, and as downlight when combined with other lighting.
It’s used in a variety of venues such as museums, elevators and restaurants. The Acriche also has a dimming capability that’s new for LEDs.
“That’s one of the benefits of the AC-driven product,” says Kennie Alton, vice president of NGL Supply.
A “green” product, the Acriche is 25 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and produces no UV or CO2.
“We wanted to make more of a decorative product,” he says of the product’s unique design.
It’s more than that. The bulb has a substantial feel to it unlike other bulbs. This comes from the amount of aluminum it contains, which helps absorb the heat it generates, allowing it to dissipate.
It’s available in cool and warm light and a variety of colors and angles, such as flood and spot lights.
The Acriche has top marks for safety, holding three major certifications: the UL rating in the U.S., the CE marking for meeting European consumer safety, health or environmental requirements, and a stringent German certification. It also meets Energy Star requirements and installs easily.
The Acriche is a great replacement for compact florescent and incandescent bulbs, Hardman says, and offers great power savings, using only 4 watts per bulb.
NGL Supply is installing Acriche lighting in Salt Lake City’s airport to highlight the terminal’s walk-by artwork.
The new 100 lumens Acriche bulb will be previewed in early March and available for sale in April.
