Shopping for Light Bulbs for the Home and Business
Incandescent Light Bulbs • Most commonly used light bulb • Inexpensive • Not as energy efficient as other bulbs Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs): • Last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and consume a quarter of the energy • CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury and care should be taken when handling • When CFL bulbs burn out, they should be recycled Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): • Long lasting • Extremely energy efficient • Provide directional, not diffused light, making them ideal for task lighting but not entire room illumination • Prices range five to six times higher than CFLs Halogen: • Closest light source to natural daylight, also known as “white light” • Halogen bulbs are often used in pendant lights or lights with a recessed can
A bulb’s brightness is measured in lumens. Bulbs require electricity, measured in wattage, in order to produce a certain amount of lumens: Incandescent: low light and low efficiency (For example, to produce 450 lumens, an incandescent bulb requires 40 watts) Compact Fluorescents (CFLs): bright and very efficient (For example, CFLs can produce 800 lumens using less than 15 watts) Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): bright and very efficient (For example, to produce a low end of 450 lumens, a LED bulb requires 5 watts) Halogen: somewhat bright and efficient (For example, to produce 450 lumens, a halogen bulb requires 29 watts)
These days, many consumers seek bulbs with lower carbon dioxide emissions. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out of the market due to low efficiency. The most environmentally-friendly bulbs are LEDs and CFLs. Historically, halogen is not as environmentally-friendly as other bulbs; however, a special new infrared coating has been developed that reduces waste heat and improves efficiency by up to 30 percent (over typical incandescent bulbs).
Every bulb has drawbacks, depending on how the light source will be used: Incandescent: extreme cold and high humidity can impact the performance of the bulb, reducing brightness or lifespan, so use incandescent bulbs indoors. Compact Fluorescents (CFLs): meant for ambient light, CFLs are sensitive to temperature and are not equipped to handle dimmer switches. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): the light emitted from a LED is directional, meaning it will only illuminate an area directly below or in front of the bulb. Don’t try to light a large space using LEDs only. Halogen: can cause safety concerns in the home due to hot temperatures.
Bathroom lighting benefits from lower color temperatures, like the light of incandescent bulbs.
"Warm" light, from bulbs like CFLs, is also optimal in bathrooms because it gives skin a healthy appearance when looking in the mirror. Supplemental lighting, such as low-watt LEDs above a mirror, is ideal for illuminating face and hair.
Fluorescent or LED bulbs are best. Use long, fluorescent-lit ceiling fixtures to light a large space. Provide local ambient light, such as desk lamps, that best duplicate natural sunlight to reduce eye strain.
It’s a matter of personal preference! In commercial or business applications, the bulb color you use will depend on the mood you’d like to create. For example, fresh bakery goods may look better under a warm white light, whereas a clinical space may look clean and neat under cool-colored bulbs. Have fun experimenting to see what looks best!
Incandescent: lasts 1,000 hours Compact Fluorescents (CFLs): lasts a 100x longer than an incandescent bulb Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): lasts up to 10x longer than an incandescent bulb Halogen: lasts up to 10x longer than an incandescent bulb
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