BLT Direct Look to Future of Energy-Efficient Lighting Solutions

As 2013 draws to a close, BLT Direct, one of the UK\s premium suppliers of lighting solutions for homes and businesses, is looking towards a future which looks particularly bright, especially where light bulbs are concerned. With technology advancing at an incredible rate and consumers actively looking for efficient, functional bulbs, there are incredible developments being made in the world of lighting solutions that could hit the market within the next few years.

Steven Ellwood, Managing Director of BLT Direct, says, \In the past decade we have seen attitudes towards lighting solutions change palpably. They are no longer a passive transaction, where people simply buy the first bulb they find that fits their socket; people want more from their bulbs, whether it is energy efficiency, the ability to play music, the facility to turn on wirelessly or simply a dimming feature which allows for control over illumination. We have taken a look at the developments that we think might hit the market over the next few years, changing the light bulb market once more.</span>

Whoever said that light bulbs should be seen and not heard will be eating their words when the next innovation hits the shelves. An LED light bulb with a built-in Bluetooth speaker has been invented, which allows for the streaming of music from any Bluetooth-enabled device. Smartphones, tablets and computers with wireless connections can send music to the device, which has an 8-watt LED light and a 10-watt speaker. The trend for making things connectable in the home has led to the invention of this device, and whilst it may not catch on in every household, there will be many tech-savvy gadget lovers who will be thrilled to get their hands on this bulb.

Speaking of wireless connectivity, one of the bulbs which is currently making waves is the Philips Hue bulb, which represents the next generation of lighting solutions. The bulb is controlled by an app which can be downloaded onto a smartphone or tablet, it changes colour with the swipe of a touchscreen, it is wirelessly connected and it is highly energy-efficient; what more could anyone want in a light bulb? The invention of this bulb has paved the way for other companies to follow suit, creating wireless bulbs with a range of functions which can be control with a remote application.

If efficiency is the most important feature for a light bulb to have, they don’t come much better than the NanoLeaf energy-efficient LED light bulb. The 75-watt equivalent bulb needs just 10 watts to power it, making it 50% more efficient even than a CFL. It is estimated by experts that they last 33 times longer than an incandescent light bulb, meaning they could potentially be in place for an entire lifetime, all the while running with a fraction of the power needed for many other bulbs. This bulb will be the first of many game-changing energy efficient lighting solutions that hit the market in coming years, and developers will continue to strive for incredible levels of savings that can only be good for consumers.