Last One Out Turns Off the Lights!

We are heading into fall and that means not only the leaves changing color, but we will also be losing sunlight each day that goes by.

This means you are probably using your home lighting more than before.  There are several types of home lights; incandescent, halogen, CFL, LED and others.

 I wanted to talk about these bulbs today as there is a law that is scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2012.  This law mandates that bulbs must be 25-30% more efficient by 2014.  The phase out of the 100 watt bulb is first to meet it's maker.  In a few years the 60 watt bulb will burn out as well.  There will be special provisions made for specialty bulbs, three ways, chandelier lighting, refrigerator bulbs, and plant growing lights. 

Lets talk a little bit about the different types mentioned above.


Incandescent Bulbs 

These are the kind we have been using since the late 19th century.  They create light by heating the a metal wire (known as a filament) until it glows.  It is encapsulated by the glass bulb to protect from air outside. 

What makes these things work so well is also it's Achilles heel, and that is the 90% power it consumes thru heat it takes to light the room.  This is the main detriment to this choice for home interior lighting.

Some positives are they mimic natural light best, hold a lampshade well, and are much cheaper than the current alternatives when factoring purchase price alone.



CFL's

These are known as compact fluorescent light bulbs.  The modern CFL was invented in 1976 by a G.E engineer by the name of Edward Hammer. 

The CFL did not become popular from a consumer standpoint until the mid 90's when they were mass produced from China.  These bulbs use up to one-fifth less power, and last 6-10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Some drawbacks of the CFL include cost, they are not dimmable, they take a second to reach max brightness, mercury content, and if you have ever tried to put a lampshade on one you know the pain.  If you happen to break one it can be hazardous to your health if not properly cleaned up.


LED

These newest types of bulbs for consumers are called light emitting diode or LED for short.  They were invented in 1962 as an electrical component.

The advantage these have is that they last 2-4 times longer than CFL's, and a ridiculous 25-30 times longer than incandescents.  They use very little power since they use 85% less energy than incandescents.

There are some roadblocks to LED's dominance though.  Costs are very high for the average consumer although some prices have fallen in half in the last year.  Another prominent issue is color quality and a less natural light given, and a LED light also doesn't do as good of a job of brightening up a room.  There is also a lack of selection for widespread practical use.


Halogen

These bulbs are similar to incandescents, but come with a tungsten filament and are filled with halogen gas creating what is known as a "halogen cycle".  This cycle is basically a reaction of the halogen gas, the bulb wall, and the filament, not to get into scientific jargon.

The halogen bulb is most widely used as outside floodlights, and headlights in automobiles. 

There are some fire and burn risks associated with halogen bulbs since they reach a much hotter temperature than even incandescents.

Light bulb manufacturer Bulbrite has come out with Halogen bulbs that use less energy, is dimmable, come in clear and soft white, can last up to 1000 hours, and are made in 4 equal luminosity equivalents to an incandescent bulb.


Lighting the Way To the Future

In addition to the phase out of incandescents next year, there will also be a change in measuring light.  Watts will be changed to lumen's.  CFL's have come a long way the past couple years, LED's are dropping in price and improving as well. 

I don't know what the future holds in the lighting industry, but one thing is certain that humans craving for light will not diminish, but burn brighter and brighter.

P.S.  If you are interested there is a great article I read about our demand for light.  The link is below.

http://www.economist.com/node/16886228