Incandescent: Incandescent light bulbs have been standard in most households for years and are probably the most familiar bulb type. They are available in a wide range of sizes and wattages and are inexpensive to purchase. However, in spite of their low initial cost, these bulbs actually waste a lot of energy as heat. Incandescent bulbs are currently being phased out in some areas in lieu of more energy efficient designs.
Fluorescent Tubes: More commonly seen in commercial or industrial settings, fluorescent lights are more expensive than incandescent but operate more efficiently for long-term energy savings. They are available in warm, cool and daylight colours for a variety of work settings. Decorative fluorescent fixtures are also available and are often installed in kitchens, laundry rooms and basements. Because they contain a small amount of mercury, these bulbs should not be disposed of in the garbage; they need to be recycled properly.
Compact Fluorescent: CFLs, or compact fluorescent light bulbs, provide the energy benefits of fluorescent lighting and are designed for use in both household and commercial fixtures. With up to 75% energy savings and 10 times longer life than standard incandescent bulbs, CFLs are a popular choice for a variety of lighting applications. They are now available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, wattages and colours to suit virtually any need, including ones that are compatible with dimmer switches. CFLs are a little more expensive at the outset, but the cost is balanced in the long term by energy savings and lifespan. As with fluorescent tubes, they contain a small amount of mercury and should be recycled.
LED: Light Emitting Diode, or LED, lights are still a relatively new trend in household lighting but they are swiftly gaining ground. Many people have already replaced old and outdated holiday lighting with durable LED light strings. They are also widely used in traffic lights, car lights and commercial or professional settings due to the fact that they are extremely energy efficient with a very long lifespan – up to 80% energy savings and a 33 times longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs. They are also extremely durable, contain no toxins and provide bright, reliable light. They are still not as common for household lighting (although this is changing as the technology improves), which means they aren’t available in as many styles, they are more expensive and, although sudden failure is uncommon, they may have a greater decrease in light output over time than standard bulbs.
Halogen: Halogen bulbs work on the same principle as incandescent; a metal filament is heated with electricity to produce light. The difference is that the filament is surrounded by halogen gas instead of a vacuum. As a result they create a brighter, more efficient light and are longer lasting than standard incandescent bulbs. They are, however, very hot to touch and very sensitive to the oils on your skin so they should only be handled with gloves. They are most commonly used in work lights or recessed lighting.
Xenon: Like halogens, xenon bulbs heat a filament surrounded by gas to produce light. They are an improvement on halogen technology and produce a bright, white light that is excellent for recessed, under cabinet and other practical task lighting.
HID (High Intensity Discharge): This family of bulbs includes high and low pressure sodium and metal halide lights. They are designed to produce a very high light output for their size and, as a result, are compact, efficient and long lasting. They’re generally used in outdoor lighting applications or commercial interiors.
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Does it all look like light to you? There’s actually a wide range of light colours available ranging from warm to cool to daylight. Light bulbs are defined as warm or cool based not on the physical temperature of the light but on how “hot” or “cold” it looks. Warm light tends to be slightly red, yellow or orange coloured while cool light is slightly blue, green or violet. The colour temperature of the light you choose can have a big impact on the look of a room and will depend heavily on the purpose of the light.
| Soft Pink: This coloured bulb is specifically designed to enhance the warm look of light to flatter skin tones and create a cozy, more welcoming atmosphere in interior spaces. This is an ideal bulb for living rooms or other areas where guests are entertained. |
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| Warm White: Warm white bulbs enhance warmer colours such as reds, oranges, browns and yellows. They are generally a popular choice for homes, hotels, restaurants and other spaces where you want to foster a cozy, intimate atmosphere. |
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| Cool White: With cooler blue or greenish overtones, cool white bulbs tend to be more popular in offices, stores and work areas that need bright task lighting. They can also be used in homes where décor colours run heavily to blues, greens and purples. |
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| Daylight: Daylight bulbs reproduce the look of bright daylight for accurate colours and natural-looking light. |
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| Full Spectrum: Full spectrum light bulbs are designed to mimic sunlight which makes them ideal for use with grow lamps as well as a variety of other purposes. They also provide an accurate, natural light which is ideal for artists, quilters, needle-crafters and readers. |
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Watts: This is the measurement of energy usage for your light bulb. The lower the wattage, the less energy used. It’s always important to never exceed the maximum wattage recommended for a given light fixture. It will cause the fixture to overheat which can create a fire hazard.
Lumens: This is a measurement of light output and is useful for comparing one bulb to another. The more lumens, the more light produced. If you’re planning to go with energy efficient CFLs or LEDs they have much lower wattages than incandescent bulbs, so you need to compare lumens to find out which bulb would provide the equivalent light output.
CRI (Colour Rendering Index): This is a measurement of colour accuracy on a scale of 0-100. The closer the number is to 100, the more accurately the light source will render colour. This is important information for designers, architects, photographers and other people who are concerned with how the colour of the light will affect their work.
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