If all of the world's light bulbs were replaced with energy-efficient LEDs for a period of 10 years, researchers at the US Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute claim, oil consumption would be cut by 962 million barrels, removing the need for 280 power stations, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 10 billion tonnes, and ultimately result in financial savings of $1.83 trillion.

Rensselaer, known for fundamental LED research, has been looking at environmental impacts.

"What the transistor meant to the development of electronics, the LED means to the field of photonics. This core device has the potential to revolutionise how we use light," said Professor Fred Schubert in a paper: "Transcending the replacement paradigm of solid-state lighting," published in Optics Express late last year.

The paper, co-written with researcher Jong Kyu Kim, is excellent, contains predictions on what LED technology is likely to exist, and is available for free at the OpticsInfoBase website. .

"The paper is a call to arms for scientists and engineers, and stresses that advances in photonics will position solid state lighting as a catalyst for unexpected, currently unimaginable technological advances," said the University.

Schubert and Kim's total electricity saving estimate of is 18,310TWh, equating to total energy savings of 1.892x10²⁰J.

In October last year, Rensselaer announced its new Smart Lighting Research Center, in partnership with Boston University and the University of New Mexico, and funded by an $18.5m, five-year award from the US Government.

Colour coding LED info
	Driving into the blue
	Organic - grow your own
	Green chandeliers
	Into the black?
	Display Trilogy
	Headlight glare
	Phosphorous
	Sensing light
	Grey area
An alternative look at the hues and shades of LED technology

The three primary research thrusts of the center are developing novel materials, device technology, and systems applications to further the understanding and proliferation of smart lighting technologies.

See also: The blog MannerismsLED industry insiders, from Dialight, Carclo, Farnell and SKK Lighting share their insights on the issues shaping the development of LED technology in general and LED lighting in particular.

See also: Electronics Weekly's roundup of content related to LEDs, with a special focus on both white LEDs and coloured LEDs:

LED technology - White LEDs

LED technology - Coloured LEDs

LED technology - LEDs general

LED technology - OLEDs

LED technology - LEDs Lighting

Sign-up for the ElectronicsWeekly.com newsletters
Daily Latest (Daily)	Weekly Roundup (Weekly)	Mannerisms (Weekly)	Circuits (Fortnightly)	Made By Monkeys (Fortnightly)