FIRST Robotics Selling LED Light Bulbs

Why would you pay $20 for a light bulb?

When it benefits FIRST Robotics. Well, also because it lasts nine years in normal use.

FIRST Robotics is selling LED light bulbs that put out 450 lumens, roughly equivalent to a frosted 60-watt light bulb.

The bulbs put out a warm white light (a lighting designer would know that's what they mean when they say its light is 2,700 degrees Kelvin) and use an infinitesmal 7 watts -- the same as a night light.

The bulbs are being sold through FIRST Robotics teams. Of the purchase price, $10 stays with the local FIRST team selling the bulb.

The bulbs are being donated in part by Google to the cause of advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in Michigan.

FIRST is a nonprofit organization that designs fun, motivational programs to help young people ages 6 to 18 discover, and develop a passion for, the STEM fields through challenging robotics competitions.

More than 250,000 young people and 90,000 adult mentors and volunteers from more than 50 countries participate annually.

Also, FIRST students qualify for $14 million in college scholarships.

FIRST light bulbs are available from local teams. For more information, visit www.firstinmichigan.com or www.usfirst.org