The Evolution of the Light Bulb with PPDS
January 16th, 2012 | by Isaac Hogan |
Beginning October of 2012, the phasing out of the Incandescent bulb will begin. With 100W bulbs being the first to go and 40W bulbs bringing up the rear, many consumers are left wondering what to purchase now that their trusty go-to will no longer be an option. Rebecca Wilkins of PPDS writes about the past and future of incandescent lighting.
THE PAST A Brief Look at Incandescent Lamps:
“The Original” – Incandescent lamps operate on the principle that heat produces light. Electricity is directed along a metal filament wire, heating it to a high temperature until it glows. As a result, incandescent lamps have a great Color Rendering Index or CRI and their warmer glow compliments skin tones (CRI is the ability of a lamp to reproduce accurate colors when compared with natural sunlight; the higher the number, the better). Incandescent lamps have traditionally been the most affordable option, but their inefficiency has now made them a thing of the past.
Halogen lamps are an energy-efficient cousin to the traditional Incandescent “A” bulbs. Although these lamps also use a filament and heat to produce light, they are much more efficient. These lamps are commonly found in track lighting (MR16) fixtures, recessed fixtures and car headlights (you know, the ones that look like their high beams are always on). They are known for their characteristically bright white output and long lamp life.
Where these work great:
Restrooms and closets are a great place for incandescent fixtures. Combined with natural light these lamps will give you a true-to-life setting for makeup application and clothing choices.
Where to avoid:
Avoid using these fixtures as all-over lighting. While they do look great, their heat output combined with prolonged exposure can be uncomfortable and possibly damaging to art and fabrics.
How to get the most out of them:
Dimmers are an easy, inexpensive way to extend the life of your incandescent lamps while providing extra control to create a variety of lighting scenarios.
THE PRESENT A Brief Look at Gas-Discharge Lamps:
Funny name, awesome product. Gas-discharge (fluorescent lamps) can be found in nearly every home and office in the United States. Fluorescent lamps function differently from Incandescent lamps. The lamp’s outer casing contains mercury vapor. Electricity is fed through a ballast, exciting the mercury atoms to produce short-wave ultraviolet light. This UV light then causes the phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp to fluoresce, producing visible light. With the rising cost of electricity, these super-efficient and fairly inexpensive little guys have been dominating the market over the past few years.
One thing to know about fluorescent fixtures is that regardless of whether they’re spiral CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) in your reading lamp or the 6’ long beasts found in your office building, they all require a ballast. In the case of many CFL’s the ballast has been integrated into the base of the lamp for ease of use. The ballast regulates the flow of electricity and decides whether or not a fixture is dimmable. Although the additional cost of a ballast can make fluorescent fixtures more costly, the savings in energy costs negates the higher initial cost of the fixture.
Where these work great:
Fluorescent fixtures are great for home offices, workshops, and garages. They provide a nice, even glow and a high level of visibility. To avoid glare, consider using indirect (light shining up) fixtures, or fixtures with a lens.
Where to avoid:
Restrooms and closets can be “iffy” locations for these lamps. Their CRIs are on the lower end and may skew your ability to recognize colors.
Note: When using CFL’s in recessed fixtures with ceilings heights of over 11’, there are a few things to consider. Many times, basic recessed fixtures don’t have reflector systems, and as a result, when using a CFL lamp, the light may not reach your intended work surface. If you’re replacing your old incandescent with CFL’s, consider using a lamp with a slightly higher light output. For example, try trading a 60w incandescent for a 75w-equivalent CFL. You’ll have a brighter space and a lower electric bill!
How to get the most out of them:
Fluorescent fixtures are workaholics. They are designed for prolonged use (such as in offices) and turning them off and on will actually cause them to burn-out faster. For the best results, use these lamps in areas in which you’ll be spending a minimum of 30-45 minutes at a time.
THE FUTURE A Brief Look at LED’s:
LED (Light Emitting Diodes) are all the rage in this new age of lighting. LED’s produce light through electroluminescence: an optical/electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response to the passage of an electric current. Although LED’s have been used for decades in electronics, their development into a fully-functional light source for both Commercial and Residential use is a fairly recent occurrence. LED’s are available in 4 varieties: red, green, blue, and white. As white LED’s are currently the most expensive version, most consumers (both residential and commercial) use a combination of red, green and blue, or an all-blue LED lamp with a phosphor coating (both of which combine to form white light). These lamps put out an amazing amount of light with minimal energy use, and have an extremely long life span, but they come with a high price tag. Starting at $50 a lamp, most consumers may have to wait for the price to come down.
Where these work great:
LED’s are fantastic for highlighting architectural features (both indoors and out) and showcasing art. Although there are a few lamps that can be used for general lighting, most have a characteristically tight beam light. These tight, bright beams are perfect for skimming a textured fireplace, highlighting entrance columns or creating a striking cove feature while giving off little to no heat.
Where to avoid:
Although there are a few manufacturers producing omnidirectional lamps, use caution when considering LEDs for all-over lighting. Some fixtures’ tight beam patterns can create patchy pools of light and darkness that can be jarring (Think of every episode of CSI you’ve ever seen).
How to get the most out of them:
If you want to use LED’s, don’t be afraid to spend some money and give several different types a try before purchasing for your entire house. Dimmable LED’s can help tailor these lamps to your needs. If a LED option looks appealing, ask a sales associate to trade out the lamping on their floor model so that you can get a better idea of its performance before you buy. As this technology continues to improve, we’ll continue to see better, more cost-effective options emerge, and we cannot wait!
All content written by Rebecca Wilkins of PPDS.
PPDS is a full service interior design firm, in Austin, that specializes in high‐end residential, hospitality, multi‐family and commercial design projects.
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