Light Bulbs Types

Light Bulbs Types – Comparison

Following on from my recent blog on the light bulb standards in the USA, it’s time to look at the different light bulbs types and compare and contrast them.

So that you can make up your own mind about the best light bulbs type for YOU.

What light bulbs types are available?

Incandescent Light Bulbs

These lights have several advantages, mainly to do with the apparent cost.

• The up-front purchase cost of these bulbs is low.  You don’t really notice the cost when you’re doing your normal grocery shopping.
• They are easy to fit
• They are easily recognisable
• They are available in different strengths (brightness) and different colours
• They can be easily dimmed for mood lighting.
• They don’t contain mercury so it’s relatively safe to dispose of them.

Of course, like everything else, there are disadvantages too.

They are more expensive to use than CFLs.   This is mainly because they are not energy efficient – most of the energy they use is wasted by producing heat instead of light (have you ever touched a bulb that’s been switched on for a while?).

With between 12 and 20 percent of your energy bill going toward lighting (if you’re using incandescent bulbs, USA statistics), it makes sense to save money on lighting.  Incandescents  don’t last long so they need to be replaced often, so a lower purchase cost doesn’t actually save you money in the longer term.

“If every home in the U.S. replaced just one traditional inefficient incandescent bulb with an efficient CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes”. (US EPA)

Incandescent bulbs aren’t recyclable and end up on landfill, however, with no mercury this is better than CFLs on landfill.

Halogen Incandescent Light Bulbs

Halogen incandescent bulbs (also known as a tungsten halogen or quartz iodine), are very similar to incandescents.  They are slightly different inside (you can see this in the pictures) but are essentially a ‘variation on a theme’.

They last a little longer than conventional incandescents, but not as long as CFLs or LEDs. They also operate at a higher temperature than traditional incandescents, so you may end up using still more energy to cool your home (although they will help with warming in winter).

Where are Halogens Used?

Halogen lights are also used in car headlamps, in floodlights for outdoor lighting and on boats, and in many desktop lamps.  Halogen bulbs used to be used in the Times Square Ball, but according to their website, they’re now using LEDs.

Most theatres, TV and film studios use halogen bulbs, and they are also used in slide and movie projectors.

Next: CFL light bulbs – is it true that they don’t last and give horrible light?

Other Lighting Articles – you might find these interesting

New Light Bulb Standards in the US

CFL Pros and Cons

LED lights at home and how best to use them

Bedroom Lighting Ideas

Bedroom Reading Lights

Harley LED Lights – Harley Davidson go Green (Video)

LED Kitchen Lights – Ideas

LED Home Lighting – 4 things you need to know when buying LEDs

Example of LEDs (Video)

 Photo Credit: wikipedia