Plumen I, the first designer CFL light bulb, begins taking orders

Susan Dickenson -- Home Accents Today, 9/10/2010 11:25:36 AM

LONDON, England, Sept. 10, 2010 -- The first "designer" CFL bulb made the leap from concept to reality last week as London-based Hulger began taking orders for its Plumen I, a nontraditional low-energy bulb design that has already earned a spot in MoMA's permanent design collection.

Hulger, which calls itself a "cult electronics brand" and is known for its unusual telephone designs, said its mission with regard to lighting is "to create CFL bulb designs that compel people to adopt this much more efficient technology through genuine desire as opposd to guilt."

The Plumen I eschews the tube and spiral shapes of traditional CFL bulbs in favor of a more organic twisted shape resembling a loose knot or braid. The idea is to take the bulb from boring to show-worthy.

It uses 80% less energy and lasts eight times longer than incandescent bulbs. For now, the bulb only works in countries with a voltage system of 230v (which means it will not work in the U.S., Japan and much of central and south America). A company spokesperson told Home Accents Today a U.S. version of the bulb should be available in early 2011.

The Plumen I (230v) can be pre-ordered for a cost of 30 Euros, at plumenshop.com. Purchases will be shipped beginning October 5, 2010.

On its website, the bulbmakers say the name Plumen comes from "plume" - the bird's decorative feather designed to attract attention to its prowess and beauty. "We believe our designs do the same for the neglected low energy light bulb.

"It's strange that the bulb, an object so synonymous with ideas, is almost entirely absent of imagination."

For more information visit www.plumen.com.