The little bulb that could – Energy Miser Light Bulbs
Light it up green – save money and energy!
Everywhere you turn, people are talking ‘green’. It is fun to watch as green products and innovative decorating ideas continue to surface that are helping our planet become less wasteful in energy consumption. Items that we never dreamed could possibly be replaced are now slowly disappearing with new technology presenting, literally, a better light bulb.
Since 1879 when Edison first presented the light bulb as an alternative to kerosene lamps, we have marveled at this great invention, never thinking that there could ever be anything better. But as we study the energy draining products of today, the incandescent light bulb is right at the top of the list. An energy guzzling device that emits a distorted yellowish glare, it is still considered the cheapest option on the market.
Great for lighting – horrible for make up
Another type of lighting that gained popularity in the 1920’s was fluorescent lighting and was first used in commercial buildings and garages where more light was in demand. Even though at the time it seemed good, today we know how bad it is for residential use. Some of the many drawbacks of fluorescent lighting, for starters, is the fact that it is filled with mercury. It is also sensitive to temperature extremes, intermittent flickering is common and then there is disposal.
The world has a lot of lights – you can see form space!
It seems that energy consumption, sometime in the 1970’s, really began to take form and thus the birth of the tungsten halogen lamp or quartz lamp. The light from this bulb is far better than the incandescent light bulb, also needs lower voltage and its life span is much longer. It is becoming more popular only recently with emphasis on energy consumption but before people were not so quick to change, in part, because of the cost.
LED – bright, efficient and flexible!
But now, there is an option that we have all been waiting for. The most awesome and creative discovery of alternative lighting was discovered in the 1960s and is known as the LED. This device is made out of a Silicon element that converts electrical energy into light energy without the drawbacks found in other lighting types. Invented by Nick Holonyak, known as ‘the father of the light-emitting diode’, Holonyak has received many honors for his innovation that is changing the world – and deservedly so.
Not your average bulb – more like a lightning bug on steroids!
The LED (light-emitting diode) is totally different from other light bulbs as we know them. If you’ve ever had an electronic device, you may notice a small red indicator light that shows whether the unit is on or off. This is a LED light. There is no heat given off, no distorted tint, no moving parts, a long life span and energy efficient.
This technology is being worked on all the time now and as a result there are bulbs being used as replacements in street lights and decorative lighting, as well as for LCD displays of flat screen televisions. Although the costs associated with this technology are high at first, the savings and other benefits outweigh that. Pretty soon all light bulbs will be replaced by the energy efficient and saving LED. This only shows that it is possible to make a better light bulb.
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