Philips wins $10 million DOE bulb contest

Philips Lighting has won the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize” -- more commonly called the “L Prize” competition -- with its 10-watt LED bulb that will be part of its AmbientLED and EnduraLED line. Designed to replace the 60-watt bulb, which will be phased out in 2013, the Philips LED bulb was submitted to DOE in 2009 and underwent 18 months of intensive field, lab and product testing to make sure its performance, quality, lifetime, cost and availability meet expectations for widespread adoption and mass manufacturing, according to the announcement. 

As the winner, Philips will receive a $10 million cash prize as well as L Prize partner promotions and incentives.

Silvie Casanova, a spokeswoman for Philips Lighting, told Home Channel News that some of the technology developed for the L Prize entry -- for example, a yellow, phorphor cap that turns white once the bulb is turned on -- was used in the AmbientLED bulbs now on sale at Home Depot. The L Prize-winning 60-watt equivalent LED bulb from Philips could arrive in stores either later this year or early 2012.

As for the $10 million prize money, “We’re going to invest it into the manufacture of the bulb here in the U.S.,” Casanova said.