The 'frogLight' concept is the latest piece of genius technology to come out of Frog Design, Inc., a strategic-creative consulting firm based out of San Francisco, CA. Frog lends their services and expertise in diverse fields, including consumer electronics, software, entertainment, finance, medical, retail, and fashion. Big names included among their clients - Alltel, Disney, GE, HP, Logitech, Microsoft, MTV & Yahoo! Initially trying to modify the design of the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), today's standard in energy-efficient lighting, Frog discovered environmental drawbacks to fluorescent lighting:
"CFLs use ballast, which contains mercury, electronics and plastic housings. Most consumers just throw fluorescents out with the trash, even though they should be disposed of as toxic waste. CFLs are not dimmable and therefore use their maximum light output each time they’re turned on."
One drawback to LED lights is the amount of heat they create. Still less than your standard incandescent bulb, the heat must be dissipated in some way or else the life of the light will be greatly diminished. Taking all of this into consideration, Frog initially focused heavily on design aesthetic, however they ultimately decided to keep things simple and reinvented the light bulb.
In the end Frog "arrived at a concept that offers better energy efficiency than CFLs without the toxic mercury, provides a desirable light quality and dimming capability, and fits into the socket connection of the incandescent—all in a package that will last 30 years." This is quite the accomplishment!
The next step is making this new form of "green" technology available to the public. Frog Design is currently in talks with manufacturers, trying to find a way to bring it to market. I look forward to this technology being the new standard in "green lighting" but until then, CFLs will have to suffice.
Lights out until next time!
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