The Government We Deserve: Government Contest For Green, Affordable Light Bulb Results In One Lucky Winner... And One $50 Light Bulb

Affordable light bulb.

Fifty smackers.

The U.S. government last year announced a $10 million award, dubbed the “L Prize,” for any manufacturer that could create a “green” but affordable light bulb.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the prize would spur industry to offer the costly bulbs, known as LEDs, at prices “affordable for American families.”...

Now the winning bulb is on the market.

The price is $50.

Retailers said the bulb, made by Philips, is likely to be too pricey to have broad appeal. Similar LED bulbs are less than half the cost.

“I don’t want to say it’s exorbitant, but if a customer is only looking at the price, they could come to that conclusion,” said Brad Paulsen, merchant for the light-bulb category at Home Depot, the largest U.S. seller of light bulbs. “This is a Cadillac product, and that’s why you have a premium on it.”

What can you say.

By "Cadillac product," I assume they mean something like "achieves a type of illumination nearly as good as the 4-for-$1.50 light bulbs which have now been outlawed."

posted by Ace at 04:03 PM

| Access Comments