• Question: Light bulbs have not changed much since Edison first introduced them many years ago. They all still have one thing in common though - they run out sooner or later. If they exist, how much more expensive are the infinitely lasting light bulbs? If car lights and LEDs can last so long, then surely they can do the same for the household bulbs?

    Asked by conn207 to Antonia, Douglas, Hugh, Matt, Tom on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Matthew Hurley

      Matthew Hurley answered on 13 Jun 2010:

      Things change when their is a reason for them to do so – makes life better or cheaper, or brighter. When better light bulbs make life better at a price that’s worth paying, they will change.

    • Photo: Douglas Blane

      Douglas Blane answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Yeah, you’re right. The low energy light bulbs are pretty poor and they wear out a lot quicker than they say they will.

      But they won’t be around much longer, I don’t think. There’s a whole new generation of LEDs on the way which, as you say, do last a very long time.

      Problem with using LEDs for ordinary lighting has been cost until now. But that keeps coming down. They’ll be affordable for houses very soon.

    • Photo: Antonia Hamilton

      Antonia Hamilton answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      New compact fluorescent light bulbs are meant to last much longer than the filament lights that edison invented. So I think there have a been quite a lot of changes, though no one has made an everlasting lightbulb yet. How would you test that it really is everlasting?

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