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OMG! There is now a health warning on the standard energy saving bulbs we use in Europe:

1.) There is a small amount of mercury in them and if you break one you need to dispose of it carefully.

2.) For some people with certain susceptabilities to skin disorders the low energy bulbs can bring on or worsen these conditions.

I guess it's back to burning sheep fat in oil lanterns, and a little whale blubber for the lucky few?

A few years ago, I thought I had the right idea on how to do my small part towards saving the world. I retired from the Semiconductor industry and started a hard wood company specializing in harvesting trees that came down in storms, floods, or in general for new highways or developments.

I thought I had a good business plan, I had my retirement money to "bootstrap" the company. But the reality was the company failed because woodworkers wanted the best price. They were not concerned about the "deforestation" of South America. I heard constant complaints that as a lumber manufacturer that our prices were the same as retail. Only once over three years did a single customer comment that he was appreciative of what we were doing. But he did not buy anything.

A lot of politicians and yahoo news are making a big deal about global warming now. But they offer no real solutions. Punitive approaches does not really drive people. Economics does.

I decided to go back to what I really know. I have a degree in Nuclear Physics and worked in the Semiconductor industry both in Process and Design. I am not here to "plug" my company. I would like to get your honest replies on an idea we have for a contest.

To start with, 95% of all electronics are built with "clock based" designs. Primarily because it is more simple than "non-clock based" designs. But clocks consume up to 40% of the power used in today's electronics. The important side of this, is that if you can design with less power, technically speaking certain problems affecting global warming can be addressed.

8 to 10% of all worldwide electricity is used for lighting.

Bright LEDs are a reality and use much less power. The problem is households are on Alternating Current not Direct Current (LEDs are direct current at 5 volts or less). Plus voltage varies and so does current or spikes in the current caused by weather, your air conditioner kicking in, etc.

The contest idea is simple. Use our "non-clock based design software" to build "green electronics" household lights to replace the normal 60 watt lightbulb with a 3 watt light bulb using LED's. (We do not produce LEDs)

The price has to be on the order of $1 or less estimated for large scale manufacturing. This would make the 3 watt bulb competitive with the 14 watt florescent bulb and the 60 watt incandescent bulb. Without hitting this price range, people in my opinion just don't see the advantage of buying a more expensive bulb.

So what do you think. Will the general public support this? It will save them money and cut 6 to 8% of the electricity used around the world if they buy the new bulbs.

Thanks for your answers, both positive and negative.