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Commercial License # 3667
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The invention of the light bulb wasn’t a singular event. While history often credits Thomas Edison in 1879, the story starts earlier in 1802.
England’s Sir Humphry Davy created the first electric light using a battery and platinum strip. This wasn’t a practical light bulb shape, but it marked a beginning.
More inventors followed, with James Bowman Lindsay showing a steadier light source in 1835. By 1883, the Edison and Swan United Electric Light Company emerged, signifying progress in the industry.
From the familiar to the innovative, light bulbs today come in a variety of forms, each with pros and cons.
The incandescent light bulb is a standard light bulb. These traditional incandescent light bulbs use a simple mechanism: electricity heats a filament, producing light.
The drawback? They are not energy efficient. About 90% of the energy becomes heat, not light, making them costly in the long run.
This inefficiency led to a ban on inefficient bulbs in the US. While some modern versions use less energy, they’re still being phased out.
Arriving in 1959, halogen bulbs provided an alternative. Similar in design to incandescent bulbs, they use halogen gas to increase brightness.
This results in a brighter light output and longer lifespan. Their excellent color rendering makes them ideal for accentuating artwork or as headlights.
Fluorescent light bulbs work differently. Electricity excites a gas inside the bulb, which then activates a coating, creating light.
These bulbs, often seen as long tubes in offices or schools, are far long-lasting. They can last 10,000 hours compared to a standard incandescent light bulb’s 1,000 hours.
However, they contain a small amount of mercury. This means they require careful disposal and raise environmental concerns.
Taking the fluorescent technology, compact fluorescent bulbs offer the energy savings in a smaller package.
These bulbs are common as replacements for traditional light bulbs in homes, producing a softer, more diffused light.
However, like their larger counterparts, CFLs contain mercury and can take a bit longer to reach full brightness.
LED light bulbs, short for light-emitting diode bulbs, burst onto the scene in 2008, transforming the lighting industry.
LED lights are known for their remarkable longevity, boasting lifespans of around 25,000 hours. They also come in various shapes and sizes.
While LED bulbs have a higher initial cost, they bring significant long-term savings, using 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Switching to LEDs is a bright idea to reduce your energy bill. They also impact the environment. This reduced energy use is like removing 800,000 cars worth of emissions.
Beyond the bulb types, it’s essential to understand color temperature. This measures the warmth or coolness of the light emitted, measured in Kelvins (K).
A lower color temperature, such as a smart light bulb at 2700K, gives off a warm, yellowish light, creating a cozy atmosphere. Bulbs in the 3000K range balance warm and cool tones and are common in kitchens.
Higher temperatures, like 4000K-5000K, resemble daylight and are suitable for task lighting in workspaces. Choosing the right color temperature sets the mood of a room.
With so many light bulb options, consider these factors to make the best choice:
To learn even more about bulbs, explore these resources:
Understanding the different types of light bulbs empowers you to make smart choices for your needs. We’ve come a long way from relying solely on incandescent bulbs.
Today, we have options for every need. Energy-efficient LEDs, long-lasting fluorescents, and even smart light bulbs that connect to your phone are now common. The future of lighting promises even more innovation.
Need help finding the right light bulb for your space? TurnKey Lightings offers expert lighting services in New Orleans. Contact us today to discuss your lighting needs.
For more lighting tips and insights, check out our blog.
