The Most Environmental of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs.
LED light bulbs are increasingly common as prices have fallen and environmental advantages over incandescent and CFL bulbs remain.
Over the past eight years, electricity usage in the United States, a traditionally aggressive consumer of electricity, has fallen after decades of rising rates; the main reason for this is related to advancements in light bulb efficiency. The traditional incandescent light bulb, which dominated the consumer market through the first decade of the twentieth century, retains only six percent of the market as of 2019. Interest in alternative light bulb technology, such as the advancement of Light Emitting Diode ( LED ) bulbs, have been accelerated further by legislation forcing increasing standards of efficiency.
A new style CFL bulb with an incandescent exterior design; CFLs are increasingly efficient, but still incompatible with dimmer switches.
The first at disrupting the market however was the compact fluorescent light bulb ( CFL bulb ), which functions by exciting a phosphor fluorescent coating that emits light; this process is an estimated 70% more efficient and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. As a result, CFL sales climbed extensively despite costing slightly more. However, CFL light bulbs are not as environmental to dispose of; compact fluorescent bulbs require a heavy metal, usually mercury, to excite the gases the necessary gases. Because of this, CFL light bulbs must be disposed through toxic waste channels ( contact local officials for detailed information ).
LED light bulbs are a further 20% more efficient and operate by the electrification of a circuit, which subsequently emits light; this technology was initially far more expensive and still only contribute 14% of the market. LED light bulbs have become increasingly inexpensive though and have the grown their market share most aggressively; the decades worth of longevity also usually compensate for this higher upfront price.
This is partly a result of their greater versatility as well, as an LED light bulbs can be used on dimmer controlled lights and offers a broader range of warm light
Despite this, LED light bulbs still sell for far higher prices than inexpensive CFL and traditional incandescent units; this more inexpensive market has been almost entirely absorbed by the halogen incandescent light bulb, which uses a secondary halogen gas filament to increase efficiency. These halogen incandescent bulbs use an average of 20% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and some models can last over three times longer.
These more efficient light bulbs have reduced electricity use substantially by eliminating the heat generating qualities of an incandescent filament. It should be noted that the advantages of these improved incandescent bulbs vary dramatically and research should be conducted in order to find the best model for specific needs ( in longevity over light quality for example ).
As a result, LED light bulbs are usually regarded as providing the best performance and lowest energy use. In areas where it is either uneconomical and or incompatible to use LEDs, then an array of efficient incandescent halogen bulbs are available.
Meanwhile, traditional incandescent bulbs have almost entirely been pushed out of the consumer market and even the once emerging compact fluorescent bulbs have ceded market from both the increasingly affordable LED bulbs and the increasingly efficient halogen incandescent type.