The Different Types of Light Bulbs
We rely on light bulbs to illuminate our homes, but there are a lot of different types on the market. Choosing the right bulb depends on your goals and preferences, such as brightness or color temperature.
Understanding the basics of a light bulb is the best way to decide which type is best for you. There are two main measurements that will be important to know: lumens and watts.
What is a light bulb?
A light bulb produces visible light from electricity. It is used for lighting, to show that an electronic device is on or off and for other purposes. Light bulbs come in many different shapes and sizes and use different technologies to produce light. The most common types of light bulbs are incandescent, halogen, CFL and LED.
Light bulbs are usually made of clear or coated glass. The coating can be a simple powder layer or colored. The powder is electrostatically deposited over the interior of the bulb or it may be blown in. In addition to color, the light emitted from a bulb is also affected by its wattage, the temperature of the filament and other factors.
One of the most confusing aspects of buying light bulbs is understanding how they are classified and labeled. There are entire aisles in home improvement stores dedicated to bulbs and it can feel like the options are endless. However, there is a system to the madness and once you know the basics it becomes much easier to choose the right light bulb for your needs. The first factor that distinguishes a bulb is its series, followed by the shape and size of its base. The base is the part of the lamp that makes electrical contact and it comes in several unique styles.
History of the light bulb
The light bulb has made a profound impact on our daily lives. It banished the need to rely on fire for lighting (candles, oil lamps, and kerosene lamps), and allowed people to work and travel after dark.
While Thomas Edison is usually credited with creating the first light bulb, he wasn’t the only inventor to experiment with electric incandescent lamps in the 1800s. At least 20 others tried to make a cheap, long-lasting incandescent lamp that would allow for safe nighttime activities without the need for a flame source.
Many of these early lights had short lifespans and were too expensive to manufacture or high frequency motion Sensor use regularly. They also produced too much heat and wasted electricity. Improvements in the vacuum pump and use of better materials enabled bulbs to last longer and burn brighter.
In 1904, Austro-Hungarian chemist Sandor Just and Croatian inventor Franjo Hanaman patented a tungsten filament lamp that burned more efficiently and used less electricity than carbon-filament lamps. This new type of light bulb went into wide production in the 1910s. During this time, filaments were coiled and bulbs were filled with an inert gas (at first nitrogen alone, then later argon in proportions varied to suit the wattage). These developments helped increase efficiency and led to the light bulbs we now take for granted.
Types of light bulbs
The modern light bulb comes in several different shapes and sizes to cater to a variety of aesthetic preferences and home functions. The most common types of bulbs are incandescent, halogen, LED and fluorescent. Each uses a different technology to convert electricity into visible light, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Most people are familiar with incandescent light bulbs, the ones that look like teardrops and have that little piece of metal inside. These bulbs are still in widespread use, but they waste a lot of energy by creating lots of heat when turned on. For this reason, they’re gradually being phased out for environmental reasons.
Halogen bulbs are similar to incandescent bulbs but are more efficient at converting electricity into light. They’re also a bit more durable and come in a range of colors. LED bulbs are newer and more energy-efficient, and they don’t produce as much heat as incandescent or CFL bulbs. They’re also long-lasting and contain no mercury, so they’re a better choice for the environment than older technologies.
When shopping for light bulbs, the most important thing to consider is lumens, which determines how bright the bulb will be. Wattage is another important factor, but it’s best to go with a lower wattage to save money and reduce your energy consumption.
Energy-efficient light bulbs
Lighting is one of the cheapest home upgrades you can make to reduce your energy consumption and lower your bills. But it’s important to understand the differences between types of bulbs so you can choose the best one for your home.
Energy-efficient bulbs use up to 75 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent light bulbs bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. Those savings are good for your wallet, but they’re even better for the environment.
Many manufacturers list a bulb’s lifespan and estimated yearly cost on its packaging. These estimates are based on using the bulb three hours per day, and they’re helpful for comparison purposes. However, the real lifespan will vary based on how often and for how long you use your lights.
CFLs and LEDs (light-emitting diodes) consume less energy than halogen incandescent bulbs. They also produce a wider, more evenly distributed light. Some also offer a variety of features, such as dimming capabilities and ability to work with motion sensors or timers.
The ENERGY STAR label indicates that a light bulb meets the US Environmental Protection Agency’s strict energy efficiency guidelines. Choosing bulbs that earn the ENERGY STAR label helps you save money on energy costs and prevents greenhouse gas emissions. If every American home replaced one incandescent bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified lamp, we could save $580 million in energy costs and eliminate 7 billion pounds of greenhouse gases each year.
