Until recently, most of us have used the incandescent lighting, which renders the color of objects more closely to that of natural light, in our homes. Fluorescent light was harsh, cold but typically used in offices.
Light is categorized by its color rendering index, or CRI for short, and its color temperature. The CRI number is a rating from 0 to 100, the CRI number is higher, the color is better. An incandescent bulb has a CRI of 100. Fluorescent lights can have CRI of anywhere from 50% to 99%.
Color temperature is expressed on the Kelvin scale (K) is the color appearance of the bulb and the light it produces. The color temperature of lamps makes them visually “warm,” “neutral” or “cool” light sources.
Originally these parameters’ were only met by incandescent lighting, but that is not the case anymore. The compact fluorescent bulbs available today have CRI numbers and light quality that closely matches that of incandescent bulbs. Although compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs tend to be more expensive they convert electricity into light much more efficiently than incandescent. The lower energy cost of the CFL can offset the higher cost of the bulb. Compared to incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs use less power for the same amount of light and usually last longer.
Many compact fluorescents are designed to replace incandescent bulbs and can fit into most existing fixtures. A problem with compact fluorescents bulbs is that they are made with a small amount of mercury. This mercury requires that they be disposed through a hazardous waste disposal program, they cannot be put in the regular trash.
Another type of light is the LED. The LED appears to be the bulb of the future. Although expensive, LED bulbs can produce light that is comparable to incandescent.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) last longer than compact fluorescents, they use less energy than traditional bulbs and potentially, compact fluorescents. LED lights are made in all sizes and shapes. LEDs do not contain mercury so their disposal is not a problem.
As we all know that LED bulbs should be more energy efficient, and incandescent bulbs will be a thing of the past. LED bulbs will replace the traditional incandescent bulbs in the near future.