GE Smart LED light bulb promises 17 years of service, nine-watt draw

General Electric has announced a new nine-watt LED light bulb that promises a lifespan of 17 years.

GE says its Smart LED bulb, which replaces a traditional 40-watt incandescent light bulb, will go on sale in late 2010 or early 2011.

The new light bulb represents a 77 percent energy savings over a 40-watt incandescent bulb, and is designed to last some 25,000 hours -- more than 25 times a regular bulb.

GE says it will produce 450 lumens, on par with a traditional bulb.

Better still, it contains no mercury. (Take that, fluorescents!)

A bonus from its power-sipping design? It converts less energy to heat, meaning you won't sear your delicate fingers when it's time to swap one out.

The Smart LED light bulb could cost $40 to $50, but GE hasn't pinned down an exact price.

One deciding factor, however: government intervention. In January 2012, 100-watt incandescent bulbs will be phased out, with their 75-watt counterparts meeting their maker in January 2013.

Forty-watt bulbs will be phased out in January 2014.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com