If you’re thinking of updating your home with new lighting, it might be time to think about those bulbs. CFL and fluorescent bulbs may have been the go-to options for decades, but now that LEDs are more affordable and energy-efficient, you can light your house with the latest technology and save on your electricity bill in the process. Because there are so many different types of light bulbs out there, choosing which one is best for you is not always easy. That’s why we’ve put together this list of everything you need to know about light bulbs. From LED vs. CFL vs. Fluorescent to dimmable vs. non-dimmable and T5 vs. T8 – we cover it all!
What is a light bulb?
A light bulb is a piece of equipment that produces light using electricity. You’re probably most familiar with incandescent light bulbs, which are made of a tungsten filament inside a glass or ceramic bulb filled with an inert gas such as argon or mercury. When the electricity flows through the filament, it gets very hot, causing the filament to emit light as a result. The fact that they are so inexpensive to manufacture has made them the most common type of bulb since the Industrial Revolution. The biggest drawback to these bulbs is that they consume a lot of energy. For example, a 100-watt incandescent bulb can use more than triple that amount in electricity. This is one reason why many countries, including Canada, have begun phasing out incandescent bulbs in favour of more energy-efficient light bulbs.
LED Light Bulbs
For many people, low-energy (also known as low-wattage) fluorescent light bulbs are the first thing that comes to mind when they think about energy-efficient light bulbs. But the LED light bulb has now taken that top spot. One of the biggest benefits of LED light bulbs is that they last much longer than other types of bulbs. Whereas a 100-watt incandescent bulb might last as little as 1,000 hours, an LED bulb can last anywhere between 20,000 and 50,000 hours! This also means that they use less energy. A 100-watt incandescent bulb might cost you $10 per year to operate, while an LED light bulb with the same brightness could cost you as little as $1 per year. You can also easily dim most LED light bulbs, which makes them especially useful for things like mood lighting. And many LED light bulbs can be used for outdoor lighting as well.
CFL Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as CFL light bulbs, produce light in a similar way to incandescent light bulbs, but with a few key differences. First, they use less energy per watt than an incandescent bulb. They also contain a gas that is more resistant to heat than the gas in an incandescent bulb. The tube of the CFL light bulb also contains mercury, which can be dangerous if it breaks. You should always make sure to clean up any broken CFL bulbs carefully to avoid any mercury contamination in your home. CFL light bulbs are available in a number of different shapes and sizes, and many CFL light bulbs also come with a built-in dimmer so you can adjust the brightness level of a room. These bulbs are also available in both warm white and cool white light. However, CFL light bulbs aren’t as long-lasting as LED light bulbs, although many CFL light bulbs can still last for 10,000 hours or more.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Fluorescent light bulbs are very similar to CFL light bulbs. They contain a gas that is more resistant to heat than the gas in an incandescent bulb, and they use less energy per watt than an incandescent bulb. Fluorescent light bulbs also contain mercury and are available in both warm white and cool white light. As with CFL light bulbs, you should always make sure to clean up any broken fluorescent light bulbs carefully to avoid any mercury contamination in your home. However, fluorescent light bulbs are not dimmable. This means that you can’t adjust the brightness level of a room like you can with a CFL light bulb. Also, fluorescent light bulbs don’t last as long as CFL light bulbs. A fluorescent light bulb can last anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 hours.
Why are there so many different light bulbs?
When it comes to choosing which light bulbs are best for you, there are a number of factors to consider. For example, you might want a light bulb that’s dimmable so that you can adjust the brightness level of a room if you’re creating a special mood. Or you might want a light bulb that’s non-dimmable so that it’s consistent and won’t flicker if you have epilepsy. Beyond that, there are a number of factors that can affect how much light a light bulb produces, such as the colour of the light that it produces, the shape and size of the bulb, and how much energy it consumes. You can find out more about all of these things by checking out our list of everything you need to know about light bulbs.
Dimmable Light Bulbs
Dimmable light bulbs are special light bulbs that can be adjusted to produce less or more light, similar to dimmers used on light switches. This is useful if you want to, say, create a romantic mood in the living room by dimming the lights. Or if you have young children who need less light in their rooms so that they can sleep better, you can use dimmable light bulbs to control the brightness level in those rooms. Dimmable light bulbs are available in both CFL and LED varieties. There are a couple of things to keep in mind about dimmable light bulbs, though. First, most of them are non-dimmable for the first few minutes after you turn them on. This is to protect the light bulb from overheating. So this means that you have to wait a few minutes before you can lower the brightness level. Beyond that, not all light bulbs are compatible with dimmers. You can find out more about this by checking the packaging or instructions that come with the light bulbs.
Non-Dimmable Light Bulbs
Like dimmable light bulbs, non-dimmable light bulbs are available in both CFL and LED varieties. Non-dimmable light bulbs are often used in places like garages, workshops, and basements where you might not want to be able to adjust the brightness level easily. As the name suggests, non-dimmable light bulbs can’t be adjusted to produce less or more light. This is generally because they don’t have internal components like a bulb or tube that can be adjusted like CFL and fluorescent light bulbs. Instead, non-dimmable light bulbs use heavier wires and more powerful filaments that don’t allow for the same level of flexibility that you get from dimmable light bulbs. Beyond that, non-dimmable light bulbs can be used in places where you need consistent light that doesn’t flicker. This is because non-dimmable light bulbs don’t have any circuitry that might cause a light bulb to flicker.
T5 Lights
These are small fluorescent light bulbs that are often used in commercial settings such as shops, offices, or factories. Unlike traditional fluorescent light bulbs, T5 fluorescent light bulbs don’t use a wire filament. Instead, they use a gas to produce light, just like CFL light bulbs. These fluorescent light bulbs come in both warm white and cool white light, and they’re often used for strip lighting. However, T5 fluorescent light bulbs are designed for use in enclosed fixtures, so they can’t be used in open fixtures like traditional fluorescent light bulbs. T5 fluorescent light bulbs are often considerably more expensive than conventional fluorescent light bulbs, so they aren’t really a good option for residential use. But they are very energy-efficient, so they can be worth the extra cost in some commercial settings. Bulbs Canada
T8 Lights
Also known as long fluorescent light bulbs, T8 fluorescent light bulbs are larger than conventional fluorescent light bulbs. This means that they produce more light while using less electricity than smaller fluorescent light bulbs. This makes T8 fluorescent light bulbs a good option for residential settings, especially if you want to create more light in a single room or area. A T8 fluorescent light bulb is often equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent light bulb. Whereas
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