Too much high energy consumption, if at first September, the next stage of EU regulation to ban sale of conventional incandescent bulbs comes into force may be sold, no clear bulbs with more than 45 W in the trade - the end for the 60-watt light bulb. Next year, on 1 September 2012 makes it clear finally, all light bulbs with more than 7 watts. Then bulbs for general lighting will soon be history. But what are the alternatives?

Many sat on the energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps. A high-quality 12-14 watt compact fluorescent bulb can now a 60-watt light bulb, measured by their light output in lumens, equally well. Nevertheless, the compact fluorescent lamps are probably only a temporary solution. Their disadvantages: an often cold light color, a significant delay after power and brightness, not least toxic mercury inside them, so that they may only be disposed of with hazardous waste.

The incoming ray of hope comes from another corner: light-emitting diodes, or LEDs for short called. In the current energy saving lamp test of Stiftung Warentest (9 / 2011) cut the LED lamps from Osram and Philips as the only graded "very good" - before all the compact fluorescent lamps and far ahead of the halogen bulbs. A few years ago decried as an immature technology, boasts the new generation of LEDs on now. It offers many advantages over the compact fluorescent lamps, and particularly in the technical area, the LED can score. With a lifetime that is specified by the two manufacturers with 25,000 hours, LED lamps are the two and a half times longer lasting than CFLs. Other technical features include a quick brightness development directly after power-on, a pleasant warm white color rendering and the ability to dim the LED lamps. As a major environmental and health aspect is also to be mentioned are that LED lamps include any toxic substances and can therefore be disposed of with normal household waste. One shortcoming is the new lighting technology would nonetheless: the current test models are winners in the price range of around 40 €.

But LED lights are not only limited to the four walls - the extremely versatile LEDs can do much more, for example in public areas and illuminate entire cities. Changing to intelligent LED lighting concepts municipalities could include up to two thirds of their current energy expenditures and savings for the lighting at the same time reduce their CO2 emissions. In the last year, ten local winners were a Germany-wide by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) initiated competition under the title "Local authorities in a New Light" award. The projects are now all started. They point to the vast range of technically feasible and LED lighting include the use of LED lights connected to sensors and automatic control of indoor and outdoor lighting. In Freiburg, for example, to the historic city core will be lit to historical floor plans, old structures and unique architectural elements deserve special mention. In Trier, a complete training center with modern LED lighting will be upgraded, and in Wuppertal, an old railway line, which was converted into a walking, cycling and Inlineskaterweg, with a length of ten kilometers, including five tunnels, four viaducts, and several bridges modern LED technology illuminates. In Munich, the museum from 2013 Lenbachhaus famous works of art like the paintings set "Blue Horse" by Franz Marc with LED lighting in scene.

With OLEDs, the organic light emitting diodes, just a very promising new source of light with the help of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research in German laboratories intensively researched and developed. With success: the local development of OLEDs is a leader on the world market, and the major lighting manufacturer OSRAM and Philips have just a few days of their OLED pilot production facilities Federal research minister Annette Schavan and State Secretary Thomas Rachel presented.

For the positive change in technology to the semi-conductor light to push ahead, the BMBF has launched a new publication for organic electronics published. Organic light emitting diodes are in addition to organic photovoltaics and other applications in organic electronics, the key element of notice. Up to 60 million euros, the BMBF for the notice provided to promote collaborative research projects between companies and institutes in the field of organic electronics.

Is the semiconductor LED and OLED lighting - LED lighting for private and public applications and OLED as a perfectly complementary niche application for lighting design solutions - the future? Probably. The organic light emitting diodes have toward their relatives, the point-shaped LEDs, the advantage that they give up their warm-white light area. Due to the special characteristics of the OLED, such as flexibility, transparency and a very flat design of future light sources, especially for designers and architects are highly interesting. In addition to completely new design possibilities for lighting systems, for example futuristic OLED lamps are expected in future innovations such as the OLED display OLED wallpaper, or window pane.