New Scientist reports on a breakthrough in LED lighting technology that solves two big issues: the quality of the light’s color balance and the efficiency of the units. Although the technology is several years from commercial application (watch how fast that accelerates if this really works), it is an important technological breakthrough as lighting accounts for 25% of the electrical use in the US.

Basically, a coating of nano crystals alters the color balance of the LEDs, creating a much more pleasing light. The same coating focuses the light much more efficiently, creating 300 lumens of output per watt of electricity used. How important is this? Here’s the comparable output of other light sources:

• Commercial white LEDs: 30 lumens
• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFBs): 60 lumens
• Standard incandescent bulbs: 15 lumens (!)
• Nano-coated LEDs: 300 lumens

Five times more efficient than mercury polluting CFBs is a big improvement. I hope we see some serious money thrown at this technology.