How many men does it take to design a new energy-efficient light bulb?
Three.
A team of self-described adventure-seeking Canadian “tree-huggers” have produced the NanoLight, which they call a breakthrough in LED lighting technology, touting it as the world’s most energy-efficient light bulb.
Gimmy Chu, who got his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, is co-founder of the company. He has more than seven years of experience as a technology consultant.
Along with fellow U of T grads Christian Yan and Tom Rodinger, he developed the bulb, using their science and engineering backgrounds.
What is the NanoLight? It’s a light that uses only 12 watts of electricity yet generates over 1,600 Lumens, which is the equivalent output of a 100-watt incandescent bulb. Lumens measure the brightness of a bulb.
“The reception has been phenomenal,” Chu told the Star from San Diego, where he is works at his fulltime job as a technology consultant.
His two other partners are in China trying to set up an assembly line.
The products are posted on the Kickstarter website.
The three partners became acquainted at the University of Toronto, where they worked on the university’s solar car team.
After going their separate ways, they reunited about three years go.
“We wanted to take our knowledge and skills and create real-world products,” Chu said.
The NanoLight, which is designed to operate under different countries’ standards, was launched Jan. 7. Since then, the team has gained about 2,500 backers and eclipsed its $20,000 funding goal by raising $125,000 so far.
The Kickerstarter campaign concludes March 8, and the first batch of bulbs is scheduled to ship out in May.
Soon, they hope to begin selling the 85-gram NanoLight through the website.
They are reaching out to distributors and investors.
They have two main lines of NanoLight, neither of which can be dimmed.
Chu likes the look of the NanoLight, but expects many consumers to be hesitant to warm up to its shape.
The bulbs are made of printed circuit-board material folded into the shape of a light bulb.
“It looks kind of funky,” Chu said. “But it’s hard to change the consumer’s mind on what a light bulb is supposed to look like. But this light bulb is a lot brighter and lasts longer.”
The company said that if you burn the bulb for an average of three hours a day, the bulb would last 20 years.
“Really the future the lighting industry is LEDs,” Chu said. “It’s a tough market. We’re just little guys.”
Asked if a light bulb went off in their heads prior to their invention, Chu laughed and said no.
The idea developed over time.
However, while their bright idea comes to fruition, Chu will continue to work full-time for clients as a technology consultant.
“I’ve still got to keep the lights on,” he quipped.
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