No Waste In This Light Bulb
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by: TimothyForestts | Total views: 153 | Word Count: 512
No matter where you go nowadays, people are always talking about "green" products and ideas. There are also more and more of these coming onto the market and the goal is to help the planet by wasting less energy. As a result, products we never thought would leave are being replaced with new technology. One example is the light bulb.
The wonderful invention of the light bulb was in 1879 by a man named Thomas Edison and he would be surprised at how the world depends on it. His light bulb was a replacement for the old kerosene lamps. Today the incandescent light bulb, unfortunately, is an energy draining product which emits a strange yellowish glare and is the most inexpensive choice found.
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.
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.
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.
The light emitting diode, or LED, is different from all other light bulbs. LED lights are the same as the red indicator lights on electronic devices which show if it is on or off. What makes these lights different is that LED lights give off no heat or distorted tint, they have no movable parts and have a long life. On top of that, they are also very 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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Interested in learning more about LED light fixtures? I suggest you do some reading here on LED lights.
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