NEWS

Wild Ideas Light CO:  A Bright Future, By Eric Wilson on April 7th, 2010

2nd Green Revolution

Last month’s post about Waste Farmers mentioned that the composting company was one of three finalists for the Denver Green Business of the Year.  Today 2nd Green profiles one of the other two finalists.  Wild Ideas Light Company has created a line of LED lights that not only provides a range of ultra-efficient lighting options, but uses recycled materials that are also recyclable, and last 20 years.

A few months ago I met with Ian Osborn, principal engineer and inventor at Wild Ideas Light Co.  Osborn mentioned that his light bulbs draw from one-third to one-tenth the energy as compared to an incandescent bulb.  Incandescent bulbs will soon no longer have a place in American lamps.  According to the US News and World Report they “will be phased off the U.S. market beginning in 2012” as a result of the energy law passed by Congress a few years ago.  USA Today reports that “Under the measure, all light bulbs must use 25% to 30% less energy than today’s products by 2012 to 2014.  The phase-in will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014.”

Wild Ideas Lights produces a vast array of hues in their LEDs.  The light closely mimics the spectrum produced by standard incandescent bulbs.  One of the major concerns commonly mentioned by consumers about CFLs revolves around the poor quality of light.  However, Wild Ideas Light Company has resolved this issue by creating bulbs that cast a regular light.  Currently they sell largely to industrial and commercial outlets.  Small businesses that innovate, create valuable products that save consumers money and energy, as well as generate jobs can help support the greening of the economy.  As mentioned in a few recent posts (one which discussed the Department of Energy’s role in the economic recovery and the other which dealt with jobs in the green economy) energy efficiency and clean energy remain a beacon of hope for future economic growth.

-Eric Wilson