![\"led-bulbs\"](\"http:\/\/l.yimg.com\/a\/feeds\/us\/grn\/green_ecogeek\/led-bulbs.jpg\")
Major lighting companies are working tirelessly towards becoming the first to own the LED market.\u00a0 The super-efficient light source is the future of lighting, but so far, for most consumers the available LED bulbs have been too expensive and dimmer than the incandescent bulbs we’re used to.<\/p>\n
But that seems to be changing.\u00a0 In the next few months, 60-watt equivalent bulbs in the $30 – $40 price range will be hitting the shelves.\u00a0 In comparison, just two years ago, a 60-watt equivalent cost $90 and a 100-watt dimmable bulb went for $360.<\/p>\n
Osram Sylvania is releasing an LED bulb in August that emits 810 lumens (similar to a 60-watt incandescent) that only consumes 12 watts and should last 12 times longer than an incandescent bulb.\u00a0 That bulb should cost around $40.\u00a0 The company is also releasing a 75-watt equivalent next year.<\/p>\n
Lighting Science will soon start selling a 770 lumen, 9 watt LED bulb at Home Depot with a price in the low $30 range.\u00a0 Other lighting companies like GE, Panasonic, Lemnis Lighting and Philips are all scrambling to hit a similar lumen-per-price ratio<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why is $30 for a 60-watt equivalent an important milestone?\u00a0 Well, first-off, the 60-watt bulb is the best-selling incandescent, so being able to convert an equivalent consumer LED bulb into an affordable price range is key.\u00a0 Secondly, industry experts say that once LEDs hit $20, utilities could give them away to customers because the energy saved would cover the cost of the bulbs and would allow them to postpone bringing on new power plants.\u00a0 So, getting the cost of these bulbs into the $30 range means that a $20 bulb is right around the corner.<\/p>\n