Many of us have at least once bought the wrong light bulb. Maybe it didn’t fit on the incandescent light fixture, cast the wrong color, or burned out too quickly. For millions of consumers, choosing what light works well, saves energy, and makes appealing illumination is a difficult matter. This article should help you understand what bulbs work and which don’t in your fixture.
Incandescent
Pros: Incandescent bulbs are inexpensive and produce light that is pleasing to the eye. Because they have been in use so long, consumers are familiar with the light color and quality. They can be easily dimmable and used in a variety of situations.
Cons: Because incandescent bulbs transform lots of energy into heat rather than light, they are hot to the touch and waste a lot of energy. In addition, incandescent have short life when compared with other bulbs.
Halogen
Pros: Halogen lights are much more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and generate pleasing white light. They are dimmable and offer excellent beam control. Because halogen bulbs “push” or ”shoot” light in a specific direction, they work well in recessed track ceiling fixtures.
Cons: Halogen bulbs are more expensive than incandescent, although a longer life makes the cost negligible. Currently, not all halogen bulbs are as efficient as they could be or compliant with legislation. They are also hot to the touch.
Compact Fluorescent (CFL)
Pros: Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a highly efficient source of light and the price points have been greatly reduced. They offer long life and an easy retrofit for incandescent, as well as a wide choice of colors and sizes.
Cons: Buying a CFL replacement for an incandescent can be a frustrating exercise as the color of the bulb varies depending on the different brands that are there. In addition, compact fluorescent bulbs are not fully dimmable and may not work well in most can lights recessed into ceilings. Disposal is also an issue because the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
Pros: LEDs offer much longer life when compared to incandescent. There are no disposability issues, and LEDs emit no ultraviolet or infrared light, both which can damage materials or artwork. Eventually, these light bulbs are also expected to meet standards for the Energy Star Program.
Cons: LED is a directed light source, so it doesn’t perform as well where ambient lighting is needed. Few LED retrofit bulbs exit, meaning their main use is in new fixtures. LEDs are also still expensive, but they are expected to evolve rapidly, leading to increased availability, improved fixtures, and lower prices.
