Artificial lighting consumes 20 percent of the US energy production, and has low efficiencies, around 10 percent for incandescent lamps to 30 percent for high-cost fluorescent and IR reflecting lamps. The reason for low efficiencies of incandescent lamps is that they radiate only a small portion of their energy as visible light, with a majority falling in the infrared (non-visible) region.

Foster-Miller's approach to this problem uses a selective ceramic emitter that has a much larger fraction of the emission in the visible compared to the infrared region.  Additionally, the selected materials have long term (>2000 hr) service temperature capability of >2600°C. Based on production price predictions, our lamps can capture a large segment of the current incandescent lamp market, and produce substantial energy savings and emission reduction in the US by 2010.

Under a program funded by DOE, Foster-Miller is developing materials that selectively emitted light in the visible region.  Materials with excellent resistance to thermal shock, experienced when the lamp is switched on and off, have been demonstrated.  The production process was evaluated and proven to be feasible to produce high-efficiency lamps.  A second program is underway to optimize materials and processes to maximize performance and minimize production cost. 

 We have teamed with a major lighting manufacturer to spur transition into commercial lamp products. 

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