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2022-10-26

Incandescent vs Halogen vs CFL vs LED

Incandescent light bulbs are currently being phased out, with more energy efficient alternatives becoming the norm. There are still a number of options available though including CFL, LED and Halogen, so when choosing a bulb, it is useful to know which type is most suitable for your needs.

The type of bulb is not the only consideration you need to take into account. You also need to think about the cap size, the bulb shape, the lumens and the colour temperature. In this article however, we will look specifically at incandescent, halogen, CFL and LED bulbs and their pros and cons.

What are incandescent bulbs?
Incandescent light bulbs are the classic light bulbs that have been used in homes for years. The light comes from the heating up of a wire filament in the centre. Electrical current is supplied to the wire, and as it heats, it glows.
Whilst they offer a traditional look, incandescent bulbs are inefficient. Less than 5% of the energy they use it converted into visible light. The remaining energy is lost as heat, hence why these are often hot when they have been switched on for some time.

What are halogen bulbs?
Halogen bulbs are made like incandescent bulbs but consist of a tungsten filament, sealed into a compact glass casing that contains a mixture of inert gas and a halogen (this could be iodine or bromine). These operate at a higher temperature and produce a light with higher lumens than a like for like incandescent.
Halogen bulbs typically use 20-30% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

What are CFL light bulbs?
CFL stands for compact florescent lamp, and these light bulbs are one of the more common types of energy saving bulbs. They typically use less energy than incandescent and were the first widely available energy-saving alternative bulbs on the market.
These light bulbs use an electric current to excite gases within a bulb, causing a phosphorous coating on the inside of the glass to glow. The efficiency of these bulbs is due to less of the energy being expended on heat.
CFL light bulbs typically use between 60% and 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

What are LED light bulbs?
LED bulbs produce light with one or more light emitting diodes. These diodes work with direct current (DC) electrical power, so the bulbs contain a driver that converts the commonly used alternating current (AC) to the current used by the LEDs.
These are currently the most efficient, commonly available option on the market and typically use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

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