LEDS could reduce CO2 emissions by 15%

Professor Colin Humphreys, and his team at Cambridge University’s Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, are very excited about their Gallium Nitride-based lighting. He reckons we can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15%, by moving to next generation Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Lighting in Britain and other developed nations accounts for about 20 per cent of all the electricity used. Professor Humphreys believes that lighting in developed countries uses 20% of all electricity, with it accounting for 40% in developing countries. As an example, he points to Denver, which estimates it will save $5 million USD over 10 years, from their new LED traffic lights. However the Professor thinks we might be about five+ years away from having LEDs with a more subtle white light for household use. Full story from ::ABC News Online. [by WM]