Shedding Some Light on the Next Generation of Light BulbsIf you were going to make a major purchase—like, say, a car or a new home—you’d probably sit down and carefully work out the numbers: initial investment, projected long-term costs, depreciation and rate of return, etc. Have you ever considered doing the same for something as basic as a light bulb? Not likely, right?
Nevertheless, there’s a new generation of lighting options making an impact on the market and it may benefit you in a big way to compare these new bulbs to the ones you’re currently using. Let us break it down for you:
Different Kinds of Light Bulbs
There are two primary types of light bulb: fluorescent and incandescent.
Incandescent bulbs are the most widely used and probably the main kind you have in your home. With their classic “bulb” shape and thin metal filament, these are the cheapest and most common type of household bulb. With a few minor exceptions, these kinds of light bulbs are essentially the same as the one first invented by Thomas Edison over 100 years ago.
Fluorescent lights, on the other hand, don’t have burnable filaments but use electricity to stimulate phorsphors and other gases within the bulb to produce light. For years, their size and construction made them useful only for commercial or institutional use. Unlike incandescent bulbs, they could not be easily screwed into a table lamp. And the quality of light that they produced only made them useful for overhead use. Until now.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
You cannot go into a home or hardware store today without noticing the growing prevalence of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – or CFLs. These funny-looking spiral bulbs cost a little more than incandescent initially, but over time they can help you save a bundle. Compact fluorescent light bulbs fit into any standard light socket and come in a variety of sizes, for everything from microwave ovens to overhead lighting fixtures. Compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs last anywhere from four to ten times longer and use more than 25% less energy. They can recoup their costs in as few as three months, so they can mean big savings for just about anyone who lives indoors and uses electric lighting.
Not Your Grandfather’s Fluorescent Bulbs
One of the most common misconceptions about compact fluorescent light bulbs is that they are the same as the old tube-shaped, overhead fluorescent lights so many of us toiled under at school or in the office. We all know these kinds of fluorescent lights to buzz and hum, flicker and blink, and cast a harsh and unflattering light over everything.
Unlike those long, fragile, awkward tube lights of yesteryear, today’s compact fluorescent light bulbs use advanced technology that has virtually done away with all the problems of early fluorescent lights. Gone are the magnetic ballasts that took several minutes to charge the bulb, causing that trademark flicker and buzzing sound. CFL’s use multiple phosphors rather than mono-phosphors, which means the light is cleaner and softer while the electronic connection is stronger and more consistent.
Other Benefits of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs last longer and use less energy, so there’s less waste. You’ll use significantly fewer bulbs over your lifetime and won’t have to replace light bulbs nearly as often. You’ll cut your energy usage, which will save you money on electricity costs. You’ll also be doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, cut down on energy usage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the environment.
Making the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs is good for your home, good for your wallet, and good for the planet! It’s one of the easiest yet most effective things you can do to make your home greener and more energy efficient.
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