Lighting Choices Made Easy
There are five main types of lighting available today: Incandescent lighting, fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, and light emitting diodes, or LEDs as they’re more commonly known.
Below you will find a breakdown of each one, how they operate and what their advantages and disadvantages are.
Incandescent Bulbs:
Incandescent bulbs are distinguished by the electric wire inside of them that gives off light when heated. This style dates back to Thomas Edison, and although it is widely used, it is quite a wasteful use of energy as they give off light only by heating up. Additionally, their heat causes them to burn out a lot quicker. Despite these drawbacks, they are cheap and fit into a variety of fixtures, making them a popular choice for consumers.
Fluorescent Bulbs:
Fluorescent bulbs, in contrast to incandescent bulbs, utilize gasses in order to give off light. Electricity is applied to the gas bulbs to activate the gas and the stimulated gas gives off light. Since they are operated by gaseous matter, fluorescent bulbs last longer as they don’t get as hot as their incandescent counterparts. However, their purchase price is a bit more expensive than incandescent bulbs.
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs:
Compact fluorescent lighting is exactly as it sounds – a compact fluorescent lamp. It operates as a typical fluorescent bulb, and its compact size allows it to fit into incandescent bulb frames (which are differently sized), making it suitable for many fixtures. It’s price is similar to fluorescent bulbs and it has the same advantage noted above.
Halogen Bulbs:
Halogen lighting is an incandescent bulb that combines halogen gas in order to make it last longer than the regular incandescent bulbs. They offer a bright light and last for nearly 3x as long as your standard incandescent. They only fit into specific fixtures and tend to get very hot quickly. Due to their overheating, many places do not sell halogen lamps anymore as overheating can cause the glass to break and the inner gas - which is hazardous - to escape.
LED Bulbs:
LEDs emit light when a current flows through them. They are 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and are currently the greenest option out there. They are cost-efficient and have a long lifespan, making it an optimal choice when choosing what lighting you want or when refurbishing your lighting. While their purchase price might initially deter you, don’t let that stop you from utilizing it. It’s benefits far outweigh its downsides.
So, there you have it. The breakdown of the five common lighting types with their advantages and disadvantages. Interested in hearing more? Leave your details here for one of our experienced consultants to reach out and set up a discussion with you. The consultation will provide you with accurate, up-to-date information necessary to make an insightful and well-rounded lighting purchase decision.
