Question Thread for Mark Costigliola, Managing Director of EarthLED

For our second interview, we've got Mark Costigliola, Managing Director of Advanced Lumonics which produces the EarthLED light bulbs, including the CL-3 and the new EvoLux line.

A little bit about Advanced Lumonics and EarthLED....

Boca Raton based Advanced Lumonics, LLC is an early leader in the direct replacement and professional Solid State Lighting (SSL) market. Through their popular EarthLED brand, Advanced Lumonics has rapidly increased awareness of LED lighting as a true alternative to CFL and Incandescents in the consumer marketplace and has become a leader in this space.

What have you always wanted to know about EarthLED and LED lighting?  Now is your chance to ask.

Things to remember:

• Make sure to write only 1 question per post (but feel free to ask as many questions as you like)
• Check back to vote on the questions you'd most like to have answered by Mark (use the "Rate Post" thumb up to vote)

On Friday of this week, we'll send the best 10 over to Mark and post his answers ASAP. Then, you'll have the chance to talk with him in the forums with follow-ups.

Check out the Interview Guidelines for a bit more help if you need it. Good luck - may the best questions win!

Edited by stins - Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:21:10 GMT

Edited by stins - Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:31:56 GMT

How do you anticipate the costs of LEDs to change over the next few years?

It seems that quite a bit of R&D goes into creating a replacement type bulb, especially when trying to achieve higher brightness levels.  Could you share some of the technical challenges of LED bulb development?

Do you have any interesting new LED bulbs currently in development?

LED themselves aren't especially expensive (in my experience) what goes into LED bulbs that increases the cost so much?

LEDs have a long life span, over 10 years plus, although I've searched through endless manufacturers of LED Lights and the typical warranty period is 1 to 2 years, why is that considering that these bulbs are designed to last much longer?

Hi Mark.  Thanks for taking questions.

Here's a two-part question for you:  How does your LED dimming technology work?  In general, is there a future for LEDs and dimmer switches working together?

LEDs have been around forever as a technology, but using them in a consumer lighting application is what is novel. Obviously there are technological advancements in the clustering of the bulbs, etc. but is there anything particularly novel about the actual LEDs themselves vs. the classic technology?

Are warm color LEDs technically more difficult than cooler colors?

I 2nd the cost and dimmer questions.

What is on the near horizon regarding increasing the actual brightness / lumens of LEDs?

My family has noticed that "warm" LEDs are less yellow-orange than traditional incandescent bulbs - and tend to have a slight, almost green, tint to them - is this being addressed?

 Hi, and thanks for taking questions.  I have read that LED bulbs tend to be a more "directed" light source, especially when used in lamps - floor and wall type - for example.  More like a spot, than a diffused light pattern.  Are you working on bulb shapes, reflectors etc., that if incorporated, might make LED's more attractive for some residential apps?

 One more question....where are your bulbs manufactured?