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Choosing A Light Bulb
Until a few years ago, energy was a good deal cheaper and few people thought of their light bulbs as being a major drain on their finances. Furthermore, there was only one kind available for most light fittings, the incandescent bulb, so you did not have much of a choice in the matter.
The issue is more complex these days, as there are several competing lighting technologies that can be fitted into a standard light socket. The three main contenders are incandescents, LEDs, and CFLs, and each one has their own set of advantages and disadvantages, which we shall weigh up here.
The basic design of the incandescent bulb has changed very little since its invention by Thomas Edison in the 19th century. It works by passing electrons through a thin piece of wire until it heats to the point where it glows white hot. This would catch fire if it was exposed to the oxygen in the air, so that is the main reason why it is sealed inside a glass bulb.
The most apparent advantage of incandescent bulbs over their modern equivalents is that they are by far the cheapest to buy. However, they represent something of a false economy, as they are remarkably energy inefficient when compared to the other two types, and unless you are only planning to use these bulbs very occasionally, or over a fairly short period of time, it is unlikely that you will be able to save any money with these bulbs.
The most common type of bulb currently in use is the Compact Fluorescent variety, often referred to as energy-saving bulbs. These are usually only a little more expensive than incandescent bulbs, and are both a lot more energy efficient and long lasting, making them by far the most affordable type of lighting available.
Although they require far less in the way of energy than incandescent bulbs, they do contain some quite toxic chemicals, and are more damaging to the environment when they are disposed of, which takes some of the shine off their environmental credentials.
By far the most environmentally friendly type of light bulb currently available is the Light Emitting Diode, or LED. Although LEDs have been used as indicators in small electric circuits since the 1960s, it is only recently that this technology has advanced to the stage they have been made powerful enough to light a room with.
These are far more energy efficient, longer lasting, and kind to the environment than either of the other two types, and without a doubt represent the next logical step in lighting technology. However, due to the fact that they are a relatively new technology, they are a lot more expensive to buy than either CFLs or incandescents, although they are expected to come down in price over the next few years.
An incandescent can still be an option in some circumstances, and if you are more worried about toxic waste than global warming, then you might see them as being more environmentally friendly than CFLs. However, their running costs are far higher, so if cost is your main consideration then CFLs remain the best option. However, if you can afford them, LED light bulbs have the lowest running costs of them all, and the soundest environmental credentials, so if you are really determined to save the planet, you had better save your pennies for these - or wait until they become a bit cheaper!
About the Author British Gas is the nation's favourite cheap gas and electricity supplier, boiler service provider, and energy efficiency advisor. Reduce your electricity bills by switching to British Gas' cheap energy online!
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