The promise of energy-efficient LED light bulbs is getting brighter, with technological advancements and new entrants turning up regularly in the retail market.

The latest new bulb comes from GE, and while it may not be the perfect fit for home use, it could work for certain applications. For retailers and commercial customers who need display lights, GE’s new LED lamps could mean big energy savings.

And if that seems like a small matter, check out this tidbit from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: Lighting uses nearly 40% of all electricity used in commercial buildings, according to the Department of Energy.

The two new GE LED lamps, a 7-watt “PAR 20″ and a 10-watt “PAR 30″ use far less electricity than competing incandescent bulbs and Halogens.

GE says its new 10 watt, 3000K “GE Energy Smart” LED lamp produces 340 lumens while offering up to an 80 percent energy savings compared with a 45-watt standard incandescent R30 Lamp (which puts out 485 lumens).

That’s a lot of numbers. Translation in words: The LED light far out performs the comparable incandescent in terms of energy costs, but with some loss in overall lumens. GE notes, though, that the better-directed focus of the new LEDs means less wasted light, which can make up for the difference.

The LED also lasts “up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent or halogen light sources,” which means both the new 10-watt and 7-watt LEDs are easier to maintain, GE reports in a press release.

Oh yeah, unlike CFLs, which can be buggers to dispose of, the LEDs contain no mercury.

US-based GE, which sells in 100 countries around the world, is one of the globe’s largest LED producers. The company points to its installation of LED refrigerated display case lighting systems at Wal-Mart stores as one success story in its LED commercial business.

Deb Lovig’s official title at Cree, the lighting and semiconductor company, is “LED Programs Evangelist.” The description fits. Ask her to pick a favorite project and she’ll name five before you get her stopped. She’ll skip from North Carolina State’s dorm lighting project (see picture, right) to the University of California-Davis’ smart parking garage to Notre Dame’s beautiful acorn-shaped fixtures without taking a breath.

The projects are all part of Cree’s “LED University,” a program that combines the company’s expertise with university situations and helps campuses figure out how to begin evaluating LED lighting projects for themselves. While many organizations know that LED lighting is less expensive and lasts longer than conventional lighting, they aren’t sure where to take it from there. Interior projects? Exterior security? A total campus makeover?

“The biggest issue I see besides price is just not knowing how to start,” Lovig said. “That’s what we’re trying to do, is just get people to get started.”

The motivation is there, certainly. As LED (light-emitting diode) technology continues to develop in brightness and color, it is becoming a darling in the green market. LED devices reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, and contain no mercury. And they can make a big difference in an electric bill, partly because they consume less energy and partly because they can last for as many as 20-25 years.

Take the South Entry Parking Structure at UC-Davis, for example. You might not think it’s a very exciting project, but Prof. Michael Siminovitch, the director of the university’s Lighting Technology Center, would disagree.

“Parking garages are kind of unique,” Siminovitch said. “Parking garages are pretty intensive energy users because it’s 24/7, and they’ve got some real safety and security issues. LEDs are really suited to smart applications. You can have controls that respond to occupancy.”

The lights in the garage can be set at half-power, increasing to full power when sensors detect people or movement within.

“It’s a real opportunity to demonstrate effectiveness of new technology,” Siminovitch said.

And an opportunity to illustrate cost efficiency as well, considering that lighting accounts for 20 percent of the overall energy use in a building, according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics.

“The numbers that we’ve presented to the vice chancellor, we’re talking statewide about 50 percent savings. And while we usually associate (cost savings) with having to do without, this is not the case. Here it’s not how much lighting, it’s more the quality of the lighting. Lighting that improves safety, essentially.”

The Ethisphere Institute announced its annual selection of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2009. The companies selected must promote ethical business standards and practices by going beyond legal minimums, introducing innovative ideas benefiting the public and forcing their competitors to follow suit.

Ethisphere examined 35 different industries and selected 99 companies that demonstrated the sustained and real leadership worthy of the distinction. This year 22 new companies received the honor such as Dell, Best Buy and T-Mobile. An impressive 44 firms have retained the recognition for three years in a row including General Electric, American Express, PepsiCo, McDonalds, Starbucks and Ikea.

Researchers at the institute reviewed over 10,000 companies’ codes of ethics, investment in innovation and sustainable business practices as part of their research.

They evaluated the companies’ for good corporate “citizenship”, innovations that contribute to the public well being, industry leadership and integrity track record. See more about the methodology at the Ethisphere website.

“After a rigorous and competitive selection process, the companies on this year’s list have demonstrated an understanding that ethical practices are not only necessary, but can support a stronger and more sold business overall,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of the Ethisphere Institute in a statement.

Ethisphere began identifying the ethical companies in 2007. A full list is available at their website.

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