Lighting 101

Lighting can soften a room, brighten a workspace, or provide a needed sense of safety and security. It can also bring significant savings to your monthly electric bill, depending on the energy efficiency of the bulbs used. View the lighting overview below to decide which type of lighting is right for your home.

Incandescent
The most basic and least expensive type of light bulb, incandescent bulbs use electricity to create heat, which makes them hotter and less efficient than compact fluorescents. Electricity runs through a filament inside of the bulb, creating resistance that turns the filament white hot and begins to incandesce, or glow, as light.

EnergyMiser® & Longlife®
These bulbs are incandescent with energy saving qualities. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, EnergyMisers® use less energy and Longlife bulbs last longer. However, both have a lower light output and are not as energy efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs.  

Fluorescent
Fluorescent bulbs create light from ultraviolet photons. These photons are produced when gases inside the bulb are electrified, lighting the phosphor coating inside and producing light. Because fluorescents do not use heat to create light, they are more energy efficient and longer lasting. Fluorescents designed to fit household socket fixtures are called compact fluorescents. A smaller type of compact fluorescent, called a sub-compact fluorescent, is sometimes needed for hard-to-fit, household fixtures.

Halogen
Halogen bulbs contain halogen gas which helps the bulb filament last longer and prevents haze from building up on the bulb surface. Halogens are much hotter than regular incandescent bulbs and can be a safety hazard if used incorrectly. Halogen bulbs are commonly used in floor lamps called torchiere lamps.   

High intensity discharge (HID)
HIDs create light by sending an electrical current through a high-pressure gas, such as mercury vapor or sodium gas, which causes a reaction between the current and the gas that produces light. HIDs are commonly used for outdoor security lighting because they are long lasting and have high light outputs. Other types of HIDs called Xenon lights are used for car headlights.       

Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
LEDs use a semi-conductor called a diode to create light. The movement of electrons along the diode makes electricity. The light produced is cooler and more energy efficient than light from heated filaments and the bulbs are shatterproof and long lasting. LEDs are commonly used in holiday light strings, but can also be found in certain flashlight models. 

Fiber optics
Fiber optics use a cable to transmit light through optical fibers made of glass or plastic. The light produced is energy efficient and the fibers are safe and cool to the touch. These lights have a variety of uses, but are most commonly used in holiday trees, swimming pools, and as security lighting for walkways and parking lots.

(05/31/07)