The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that Philips Electronics has become the first company to submit an entry in the department’s Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) competition. Philips submitted its LED replacement for the 60-watt incandescent light bulb, which it developed in response to the department’s challenge.

The Energy Department launched the L Prize initiative to spur development of high-quality, high-efficiency LED replacements for the common light bulb. Americans buy an estimated 425 million 60-watt bulbs each year, representing approximately half the domestic incandescent light bulb market. The department suggested that replacing these bulbs with LEDs could save 34 terawatt-hours of electricity in one year, enough to power the lights of 17.4 million U.S. households, while also saving an annual 5.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

Philips noted that its submission will now undergo a comprehensive evaluation including performance testing conducted by independent laboratories; field assessments conducted with utilities and other partners; long-term lumen maintenance testing; and stress testing under extreme conditions.

Established through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the L Prize offers substantial rewards—both financial and other incentives—for the first manufacturer to meet its requirements, ensuring that performance, quality, lifetime, cost, and availability meet expectations for widespread adoption and mass marketing.

More information about the L Prize competition is available online.

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