Shortly after launching a line of Great Value LED lightbulbs for less than $10 at all U.S. stores, Walmart announced last week that it will open its first 100 percent LED-lit store as part of the company’s push for nationwide adoption of the energy-sipping bulbs.
The lighting systems of 2013 would be instantly recognizable to Thomas Edison. Little has changed since his days in Menlo Park, NJ, with even his own screw-base socket and bulb all too dominant. And while the emergence of LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) is spoken about frequently, it is not clear that people understand that LED lighting is more than just an efficient light source.
Lighting used to be straightforward. Bulb type, fixtures, lighting levels, and controls had been chosen (with or without you) during design and construction of the building. As an occupant, you got to tag along and buy replacement bulbs with almost no ability to change or adapt to new needs and technologies.
Advanced lighting has brought us not only energy savings, but also a slew of new screw-in-a-light bulb jokes. For LEDs, it usually goes something like this: How many people does it take to screw in a LED light? One. And a roomful of deep wallets to pay for it.
