Light Bulbs: Which Type to Choose for Your Home

Proper lighting is very important in every home. And when it comes to lighting, light bulbs automatically come to mind. They are considered one of the most popular sources of artificial lighting and they are very common in both residential and commercial buildings.

 There are different types of light bulb that produce varying light effects. Certain types work better in certain areas of the home while others are more ideal for household fixtures. Each type of light bulb also has pros and cons that you should consider when deciding which one to use.

Pros and Cons of Different Types of Light Bulb

Incandescent Light Bulb

Incandescent light bulb is ideal for most household applications. It produces a warm and steady light which is perfect for areas that require constant lighting. The inviting quality of its light is also psychologically appealing. What’s good about incandescent light bulbs is that they are cheaper compared to other types of bulb and can last up to 1,000 hours. However, in terms of energy efficiency, it is not very efficient. It converts more energy into heat than visible light.

Halogen Light Bulb

Halogen light bulb is a variation of incandescent light bulb. It radiates a light that is closest to natural daylight popularly known as white light. Halogen light bulb makes different colors appear sharper. It is commonly used for wall and ceiling fixtures, pendant lights, under-cabinet lighting, and recessed cans. Compared to incandescent light bulb, it is more energy efficient and has a longer lifespan. But it is more expensive too. It can also cause potential hazards if placed in areas of the house where there are plenty of combustible materials because it tends to burn at certain high temperatures.

Fluorescent Light Bulb

If you are planning to light a large area like your attic or basement, fluorescent light bulb is an excellent choice as it produces more light than other types of light bulbs. It is also longer lasting. Different types of fluorescent bulb are available in the market such as warm, cool, and special colored fluorescent bulbs.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb

A compact fluorescent light bulb is a small fluorescent bulb that can be used in almost all types of lighting fixtures. This type of bulb is four times more energy efficient and 10 times longer lasting than a typical incandescent light bulb. Light from compact fluorescent bulbs are warmer and have color-corrected tones. One major drawback of this type of bulb is that it contains traces of mercury which is a dangerous substance. That is why extra care must be observed to prevent breakage.

High Intensity Discharge or HID

Another energy-efficient light source is the High Intensity Discharge or HID. It is also long lasting. However, most HID do not produce pleasing colors of light, one of the reasons why its common application in residential homes is at outdoors such as for area lighting and security.

Light-emitting diode or LED

The use of LED as a light source is extremely energy efficient and long lasting. But it is not ideal for general room illumination because it only provides directional light. However, it is ideal for recessed lighting, cove lighting, under-cabinet lighting, holiday lighting, and other types of down lights.

With the different options for light bulbs, it can be difficult to choose which one is more suited for you if you have no idea about the characteristics of the different types of light bulbs. In selecting a light bulb for your home, choose the one that is more energy efficient and can give you the lighting type that you want or need.