Taiwan's LED move

Taiwan has made a sensible move to LED lighting. the evidence is the pixelated traffic lights. Had you noticed yet?

The country's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has budgeted roughly NT$229 million ($7 million) for the project, which is set to begin in 2008, and will convert 420,000 traffic lights to the LED standard (350,000 have already been changed over). The MOEA claims the total savings in power consumption will be close to 85%.

engadget

Good move! God knows Taiwan needs to save power what with all the open doors in stores blowing air con outside.

Some more advantages:

• LEDs produce more light per watt than do incandescent bulbs; this is useful in battery powered or energy-saving devices.
• LEDs can emit light of an intended color without the use of color filters that traditional lighting methods require. This is more efficient and can lower initial costs.
• LEDs, being solid state components, are difficult to damage with external shock. Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs are easily broken if dropped on the ground.
• LEDs have an extremely long life span. One manufacturer has calculated the ETTF (Estimated Time To Failure) for their LEDs to be between 100,000 and 1,000,000 hours. Fluorescent tubes typically are rated at about 30,000 hours, and incandescent light bulbs at 1,000-2,000 hours.
• LEDs can be very small and are easily populated onto printed circuit boards. Everything from laptops to cellphones can apply them which is important considering the importance of extending their battery life through power savings. (WIKI)
  

I think it's time for an LED stock play on my part. BTW, some Taiwan companies are playing a lead role in LED design and production.