Information on Light Bulbs
The light bulb is rightly be considered one of the most significant inventions of the modern age. Since the introduction of stable, long-lasting light bulbs in the late 1800s, there have been numerous refinements to the basic design, including new types of filaments, new materials and new configurations. Perhaps the most significant development in light bulb technology since the invention of the incandescent bulb is the advent of the energy efficient, compact fluorescent light bulb. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
Contrary to popular mythology, Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb. According to Light-Bulbs.us, the first successful light bulb was developed by Warren de la Rue in 1820. De la Rue passed an electric current through a coil of platinum inside a vacuum tube, resulting in incandescent light. Platinum was too expensive to use for mass production, so inventors struggled for the next 60 years to develop an appropriate filament material. Edison achieved the goal by passing a lesser electric current through a carbonized filament to produce a stable, long-lasting incandescent glow.
Types
-
Light bulbs come in a wide variety of types, styles and sizes to fit almost any need from household to automotive to industrial. Common household bulbs include standard A-type bulbs, decorative E-type bulbs, parabolic reflector or par-bulbs, low voltage incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, xenon bulbs and florescent bulbs, including the new, energy-efficient compact florescent bulbs.
-
Colors
-
According to Brand Lighting, different types of light bulbs produce different colors of light. Consumers should consider the application for the light when determining the type of light bulb to purchase. Most incandescent light bulbs produce a yellow-white light. Incandescent is a warm light source and tends to enhance warm colors. Halogen light bulbs produce a brilliant white light that most closely simulates daylight and brightens all colors. Cool white fluorescent light bulbs give off a blue-white light that tends to enhance cool colors but can mute warm colors. Cool white deluxe fluorescent light bulbs emit a more accurate white light that tends to brighten all colors.
Benefits
-
Incandescent light bulbs are long-lasting, produce brilliant illumination and come in a wide variety of decorative shapes and electrical ratings. They are inexpensive to purchase and typically last between 750 and 2,000 hours. Energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs are considerably more expensive to purchase than incandescent bulbs, but according to EnergyStar, these bulbs require approximately 75 percent less energy to operate and last up to 10 times as long as comparable incandescent bulbs. EnergyStar.com estimates that compact florescent bulbs will pay for themselves in cost savings in approximately six months.
Considerations
-
All florescent light bulbs, including compact florescent bulbs, contain mercury. The mercury is not released into the environment as long as the bulb remains intact. In the event a compact florescent bulb is broken in the home, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends allowing the room to air out for at least 15 minutes before attempting to clean up the broken bulb. All bulb material should be sealed in a plastic bag for disposal. The EPA recommends contacting local solid waste disposal agencies to determine whether the material may be recycled, or disposed of along with routine garbage.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Clear lightbulb image by simbolocoma from Fotolia.com
