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Light Bulb Buying Guide-Bulb Type Basics
Select the right light bulb to save energy and help create the right ambiance.
Incandescent: Light is created by passing electricity to a filament and heating it until it glows.
Advantages: dimmable*, inexpensive & produces a pleasing warm light;
Disadvantages: Short life span & inefficient because they transform energy into heat rather than light.
Halogen: An incandescent lamp that uses halogen gas and a filament to generate light.
Advantages: dimmable*, produces a focused, bright light. Great for accent & task lighting:
Disadvantages: costs more than incandescent and very hot to the touch.
CFL: (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) light is created by chemical reaction between mercury and other gases
Advantages: dimmable**, energy efficient, long life and come in a wide range of shapes, colors & sizes;
Disadvantages: temperature sensitive & the linear lamps require a ballast.
LED: (Light Emmitting Diode) light is created when electricity passes through electronic chips.
Advantages: dimmable**, long life, energy efficient, durable, no UV or infrared light
Disadvantages: temperature sensitive, color rendering challenges
* - dimming extends the life of incandescent lamps and reduce energy consumed
** - CFL’s require a dimming ballast & LED’s may require a dimming “driver”
Select the right light bulb to save energy and help create the right ambiance.
Incandescent: Light is created by passing electricity to a filament and heating it until it glows.
Advantages: dimmable*, inexpensive & produces a pleasing warm light;
Disadvantages: Short life span & inefficient because they transform energy into heat rather than light.
Halogen: An incandescent lamp that uses halogen gas and a filament to generate light.
Advantages: dimmable*, produces a focused, bright light. Great for accent & task lighting:
Disadvantages: costs more than incandescent and very hot to the touch.
CFL: (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) light is created by chemical reaction between mercury and other gases
Advantages: dimmable**, energy efficient, long life and come in a wide range of shapes, colors & sizes;
Disadvantages: temperature sensitive & the linear lamps require a ballast.
LED: (Light Emmitting Diode) light is created when electricity passes through electronic chips.
Advantages: dimmable**, long life, energy efficient, durable, no UV or infrared light
Disadvantages: temperature sensitive, color rendering challenges
* - dimming extends the life of incandescent lamps and reduce energy consumed
** - CFL’s require a dimming ballast & LED’s may require a dimming “driver”
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