There Is No Waste With This "Green" Light Bulb
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by: TimothyForestts | Total views: 438 | Word Count: 509
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.
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.
The 1920s brought fluorescent lighting to commercial buildings and garages where a more even light distribution was desired. This type of lighting cut generated heat by up to 75%, compared to the light bulb, and seemed to be a good replacement to the light bulb. But the fluorescent bulb has many drawbacks and is not friendly for residential use. The tubes are large and filled with mercury, temperature sensitive and prone to intermittent flickering not to mention the problem of disposal.
During the 1970s, we began earnestly thinking of energy consumption and the tungsten halogen lamp or quartz lamp was designed. This is a great bulb because of the clarity of light that surpasses the incandescent light bulb, the life span is much longer and requires a much lower voltage. Although the benefits and quality outweigh the common light bulb, the public is still resistant to the change because of the increased cost but many people are moving in this direction just to save in energy consumption.
In the 1960s the best discovery of all was made and the alternative lighting was known as LED. This is a product made of a silicon element which is able to convert electrical energy to light energy, but without any of the disadvantages that regular light types have. This type of lighting was invented by Nick Holonyak and he has received many honors for this amazing innovation.
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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Interested in learning more about LED light fixtures? I suggest you do some reading here on LED lights.
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