Local inventors' innovative light bulb puts rivals in shade

Hong Kong innovators have launched a new light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb that they say is cheaper and more durable than others on the market, and they're even offering a 10-year warranty on the product.

The airLED bulb is based on technology invented by Dr Lau Kei-may, chair professor at the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the University of Science and Technology, and telecommunications developer James Wang.

The new bulb is said to be up to 25 per cent more energy efficient than other LED products and 85 per cent more than incandescent bulbs.

"The electricity bill may cost HK$80 to HK$90 a year for an incandescent bulb if you switch it on for three to four hours a day," said Eric Steinmeyer, chief operating officer of Cledos International, a company co-founded by Lau and Wang a year ago. "Ours only costs HK$10 a year."

He said it was safe to touch the light bulb even when it was switched on, as the light source stayed at room temperature - much cooler than incandescent or other LED bulbs.

The device emits light through a waffle-shaped plastic component that removes the need for transformers used in other LED products to transfer electricity between circuits.