# SWITCH LED 3-Way Innovation in Home Lighting - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/11/switch-led-3-way-innovation-in-home-lighting/ - Published: 2012-11-14T18:18:35-05:00 - Author: greenlivingguy ### SWITCH Lighting Honored for Breakthrough LED at CES 2013 #### By Green Living Guy Staff SWITCH Lighting, a company known for its advances in energy-efficient lighting, has received a top accolade from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Its SWITCH 3-Way LED bulb has been named a 2013 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Honoree, winning “Best of Innovations” in the Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies category. The award highlights the bulb’s impact on sustainable home lighting. It also marks a turning point for [LED](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/02/green-light-change-3-ways-for-your-home/) technology—moving it firmly into the mainstream with practical solutions that match traditional lighting in both form and function. ![Graphic celebrating switch lightings 3 way led bulb named a 2013 ces innovations honoree featuring a detailed bulb illustration and the ces innovations logo on a beige background](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ 06016F6D-3CC0-4396-BFA6-B1643C857E40.png?resize=300%2C300&quality=50&ssl=1 "06016F6D- 3CC0-4396-BFA6-B1643C857E40 - The Green Living Guy") Ai image ### A First in Three-Way LED Technology The [SWITCH 3-Way LED](https://greenlivingguy.com/2013/04/switch-lighting-earns-energy-star-certification-for-switch60-switch75/) bulb is the first of its kind. Designed to fit into standard three-way sockets, the bulb offers low, medium, and high brightness settings. It replaces traditional 25, 50, and 75-watt incandescent bulbs—while [consuming just a fraction of the energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/08/refrigerator-consumer-energy-standards-updated-for-the-kitchen/). Actual wattage ranges from 3.3 watts on the lowest setting to 18.5 watts at its brightest. Yet it delivers 200 to 1,100 lumens across those levels. It’s a flexible, efficient, and well-engineered solution for table lamps, reading lights, and other multi-level fixtures [common in American](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/09/10-common-recycling-mistakes-americans-make/) homes. “We’re honored to be recognized again by CES,” said SWITCH Lighting CEO Tracy Bilbrough.“ Last year, our SWITCH75 bulb stood out. Now, we’re proud to expand that [innovation into the first LED](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/07/light-green-led-innovations-in-sustainable-illumination/) that works in three-way sockets. It’s a true [advancement in sustainable](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/07/nhl-green-advances-sustainability-for-the-2011-draft/) lighting.” ### A Focus on Thermal Innovation Behind the [bulb’s performance is the company’s](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/switch-lighting-led-green-lighting-company-says-dump-old-bulbs-plus-cfl/) patented LQD Cooling System™, a proprietary blend of liquid silicone and a high- efficiency electronic driver. Unlike most LEDs that rely on passive airflow to manage heat, SWITCH bulbs use this [system to actively cool](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/04/dead-fish-how-cooling-systems-hurt-aquatic-life/) the electronics inside the bulb. The result? More consistent performance and longer product life—even when placed in enclosed fixtures, which typically shorten the lifespan of other LED bulbs. The system is up to 40% more effective at dissipating [heat](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/02/impecca-announces-single-multi-zone-split-unit/) than standard air-cooled designs, according to the company. That distinction is crucial for performance in everyday applications, where heat can otherwise degrade materials and lower efficiency over time. ### Award-Winning Design at the World’s Largest Tech Show The CES Innovations Awards are widely seen as a bellwether of design and engineering excellence. Honorees are selected by an independent [panel of designers](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/06/5-home-solar-system-design-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/), engineers, and media professionals who evaluate each product for its innovation, function, and consumer value. SWITCH’s 3-Way LED was selected from thousands of entries and will be showcased at the 2013 CES in Las Vegas, one of the world’s largest gatherings for consumer [electronics and emerging technologies](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/04/trends-in-cleaning-4-new-technologies-that-will-blow-your-mind/). The “Best of Innovations” distinction places the SWITCH bulb at the top of its category— Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies—signaling its relevance not just to lighting experts but to anyone interested in reducing energy costs and [environmental impact](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/usps-to-replace-165000-of-its-fleet-with-electric-and-fuel-efficient-vehicles/). ### Lighting That Saves Energy and Lives Longer Beyond the awards and engineering, the SWITCH 3-Way speaks to the broader [shift in lighting](https://greenlivingguy.com/2008/03/light-bulb-energy-efficiency-a-green-shift/). While compact fluorescents (CFLs) once dominated the conversation on efficiency, their use of mercury and limited dimming functionality have [opened the door](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/12/climate-change-opens-door-to-arctic-for-competitors-dod-official-says/) for safer, more adaptable alternatives. LEDs offer that alternative, and SWITCH is pushing boundaries further with products that feel familiar while performing better. The SWITCH 3-Way is dimmable, recyclable, free of toxic materials. Most importantly, it’s built to last up to 25 times longer than a [traditional incandescent bulb](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/11/philips-brings-the-traditional-light-bulb-into-the-21st-century/). The [potential cost savings](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/11/msi-lighting-helps-carnival-cruise-lines-green-lighting-potentially-saving-over-700-million-annually/) is exceptional, especially when paired with ENERGY STAR rebates. That truly makes it a [smart investment for consumers and commercial buyers](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/07/ev-buyer-guide-to-smart-electric-vehicle-purchases/) alike. ### A Broader Trend Toward Eco-Innovation SWITCH’s recognition at CES is more than just an award. It’s a reflection of the growing [market demand for products that combine sustainability](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/12/u-s-solar-market-notches-another-quarter-of-2-gw-growth-but-uncertainty-holds-back-installations/) with usability. Consumers no longer want to choose between [eco-friendly and effective](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/small-but-effective-ways-to-make-your-gadgets-eco-friendly/). That’s because we expect both. For SWITCH Lighting, that [expectation is becoming](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/08/walgreens-expects-to-become-nations-largest-retail-host-of-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/) a standard. In addition, the company has [continued to expand its lineup of LED](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/macys-continues-installation-of-msi-ipar-led-lighting-as-part-of-overall-sustainability-plan/) products while staying focused on thermal management, durability, and design. So as American households and businesses look for practical ways to [reduce energy use and cut](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/01/data-center-energy-technology-cuts-power-consumption/) utility bills, the rise of smarter lighting solutions like the SWITCH 3-Way suggests that the future of illumination may finally have arrived. ** November 13, 2012 — NEW YORK, NY – [⌊Switch lighting 3 way led bulb from switch lighting™⌉⌊Switch lighting 3 way led bulb from switch lighting™⌉[ SWITCH 3 Way LED bulb from SWITCH Lighting™ **Sources** * **ENERGY STAR — SWITCH Lighting:** SWITCH told ENERGY STAR that its A19 lineup included **40W, 60W, and 75W incandescent-equivalent LED bulbs**, with the 60W replacement producing about **800 lumens**. The [company also highlighted its self-cooling technology](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/04/company-launches-crowd-funding-campaign-to-provide-technology-aimed-at-helping-to-change-the-world/) and San Jose headquarters. [Read the ENERGY STAR document⁠](https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/specs/Switch_Lighting_Response_to_Lamp_Framework_Document_0.pdf) * **Electronic Design — SWITCH Liquid Cooling Technology:** SWITCH used its unusual** LQD Cooling System**, which circulated a thermally conductive liquid inside the [bulb to remove heat from the LEDs](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/01/pharox-is-making-led-bulbs-for-less-than-20-the-pharox-200-flame-led-bulb-is-all-about-going-green-all-around/). Thermal [management was one of the technology’s](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/02/recycling-technology-revolutionizing-waste-management/) biggest differentiators. [Read about SWITCH’s liquid-cooled LED technology⁠](https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/components/article/21802445/the-secret-of-liquid-cooled-led-bulbs) * **This Old House — SWITCH Lighting 60W A19:** This Old House featured the **SWITCH 60W A19**, noting that it could operate inside an enclosed globe and was **dimmable down to 20%**—important capabilities during the earlier years of residential LED adoption. [Read the SWITCH LED bulb comparison](https://www.thisoldhouse.com/lighting/demystifying-led-lightbulbs)⁠ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641? s=300&d=monsterid&r=g) greenlivingguy The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke # Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow. [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [ ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)