Choosing a Light Bulb

By: Dave Sabri Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Up until fairly recently, you did not have to put a great deal of thought into your choice of domestic light bulb, as not only was energy a lot cheaper, but also incandescent bulbs were the only type available.

Nowadays, of course, there are all sorts of different bulbs on the market, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. There are three main types of bulb technology currently in use domestically - CFLs, LEDs, and incandescents. Here we discuss the pros and cons of each type so that you can make an informed decision.

The basic design of the incandescent bulb has changed very little since its invention by Thomas Edison in the 19th century. It works by passing electrons through a thin piece of wire until it heats to the point where it glows white hot. This would catch fire if it was exposed to the oxygen in the air, so that is the main reason why it is sealed inside a glass bulb.

These bulbs are still the cheapest to buy, but the fact that they dissipate much of the energy required for the bulb as heat rather than light makes them very inefficient, and costly to run when compared to their modern rivals. Also, they do not last nearly as long, due to the extremes of temperature that the filament is exposed to over time.

Once a boutique product for keen environmentalists, but now a mass market product, the compact fluorescent bulb, often called energy savers, are now almost as cheap to buy as incandescent bulbs, but last a lot longer and use far less energy, due to the fact that they generate a lot less heat than their incandescent equivalents.

These are by far the best value bulbs currently on the market, although their environmental credentials pretty much begin and end with their low energy rating and comparative longevity, as the chemicals used inside the bulbs themselves are toxic and damaging to the environment, both during manufacture and especially after disposal.

The newest kid on the light bulb block is the Light Emitting Diode(LED) bulb. Although LED technology has been with us for a good while, it is only comparatively recently that the technology has been developed to the point where it has become a viable lighting source.

LEDs are without a doubt the future of the light bulb, as they are a lot more energy efficient and long lasting than the much lauded energy saving CFLs, with none of the toxic by products associated with that technology. They are currently too expensive to be a mass market product, although this is expected to change over the next few years.

If you only plan to use a lightbulb very occasionally, for instance in a little used cupboard, or require it as a heat source as well, for example in a lightbulb heated fish tank, then an incandescent bulb might still be a viable option. However, unless you can afford to buy the latest LED lights, then CFLs would seem to be the most sensible option for everyday use, at least until the price of LEDs comes tumbling down.

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