Tag Archives: Thomas Edison

Edison’s Great Grandson Says Edison Would Have Loved New Light Bulb Law

Starting January 1, a new  light-bulb law went into affect nationwide, setting new efficiency standards . The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act requires 100-watt light bulbs to use 72 percent electricity to produce the same amount of light by Jan. 1, 2012, according to the government’s Energy Star website.

David Edward Edison Sloane, a professor of English at the University of New Haven and the great-grandson of the inventor Thomas A. Edison, who is writing a book titled “Edison’s Daughter,” about his grandmother, Madeleine Edison Sloane, tells CNN he thinks his great-grandfather would approve.

“My great grandfather’s 100-watt incandescent will be replaced with new energy-efficient versions, including CFLs, LEDs, and — yes — new and improved incandescent bulbs. When better lighting is fully implemented throughout our country, we’ll be saving $13 billion a year in electricity costs and we’ll eliminate the need for 30 large power plants, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group.

“And my great-grandfather wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Sarah Miller Caldicott@TEDxPeachtree: Inventing the Future, Edison Style

“Be courageous! Whatever setbacks America  has encountered, it has always emerged as a stronger and more prosperous nation….Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith and go forward”  Thomas Alva Edison   

Sarah Miller Caldicott, the great grand niece of Thomas Edison, is on a mission to reignite the spirit of innovation that drove her uncle.

“He looked at what was needed in the world and how he could meet that need,” Caldicott told MyCentralNewJersey, in an article about her new ebook, What Would Thomas Edison Be Doing Today?”.  ”He would look at important trends, the needs in society and the gaps, and how he could meet these needs.”

“He also applied what might be called ‘fanstastical’ thinking or thinking that might be borrowed from science fiction. He was not only inspired by Jules Verne and other science fiction writers, he also wrote science fiction. So then he was inspired by these fantastical ideas that pushed the boundaries of logic — that’s when innovation happens.”

We’re at a critical juncture in society, says Caldicott, that once again requires us to “dig deeply into our innovative DNA.”    Check out Caldicott’s great TEDxPeachtree talk below for an inspiring look at Edison’s inventive process.