Vu1 shows off its bulbs

Vu1's new light bulb

After five years of development, lighting company Vu1 in September made its first public demonstration of its technology.

The Seattle-based company’s Electron Stimulated Luminescence technology accelerates electrons, which stimulates phosphor within the bulb, creating light.  The result is better quality, dimmable light than that of compact fluorescent lights, without the mercury that CFLs contain, Vu1 says. As an efficiency target, Vu1 is looking to make its bulbs two-thirds more efficient than incandescent light bulbs.

Vu1 says its first product will be an R30 reflector bulb, the type generally used in recessed and track lighting fixtures. With 150 million reflector bulbs sold in the U.S. annually and incandescent bulb bans taking effect internationally already and in the United States starting in 2012, the company says its bulbs will be direct replacements for incandescents.

Initially, Vu1’s reflector bulbs will be priced comparably to premium CFL reflector bulbs, says chief marketing officer T. Ron Davis. The company, which closed a $5 million funding round in late 2008 and has established manufacturing facilities in the Czech Republic, is looking to have its bulbs commercially available by mid-2010.