Half a century ago, choosing the right light bulb involved going to the store and grabbing a three pack. All bulbs were the same incandescent bulb. They only differed in brightness. However, today’s technologically advanced bulbs involve brightness along with dimming, colors, or true white.
Additionally, they are not even powered by the same power. For instance, some bulbs are solar powered. If those options were not enough, some work with smart technology that responds to your voice commands. Finally, some are designed to help people avoid seizures while others are designed to help people who are color blind.
Something all light bulbs have in common is that they are measured according to wattage. The wattage of a light bulb indicates how much electricity the bulb uses to create visible light energy. Generally speaking, a bulb with more watts is brighter than a bulb with fewer watts.
What is always the case is that a bulb that uses more watts costs more to run than a bulb that uses fewer watts. Because all standard bulbs offer a lot of brightness, when you are considering the bulb, attempt to select the bulb with the fewest watts as you will save money and still benefit from having a bright room.
Cost, of course, refers to the initial cost of the bulb, which should be considered. However, you should also consider cost per watt as this gives you a better idea of what, exactly, you are paying for. For instance, a bulb that costs $5.00 and only offers 26 watts is much less expensive, per watt, than a bulb that costs $4.00 and only offers 13 watts.
Finally, you should consider the brand name of a bulb because these can increase the overall cost. For instance, bulb manufacturers are in the business of selling light bulbs. Consequently, they often offer white-label packaging services to companies that sell brand-name bulbs under a new brand name and different packaging.
These so-called off-brand bulbs are still the exact same bulbs as brand-name bulbs. They are only in different packaging. However, they often cost much less.
Luminosity represents the bulb’s brightness and is represented in lumens. As with wattage, a bulb with more lumens is generally brighter than a bulb with fewer lumens. However, this is not always the case as some bulbs of the same luminosity can have a different cast.
Cast represents how far a bulb will cast its brightness. A bulb with greater cast will have a larger fall-off value. A bulb with less cast will have a shorter fall-off value because the light will fall off–or stop casting–sooner. The best way to determine cast is to compare the size or volume of the bulb with the number of lumens.
In terms of a larger bulb and a smaller bulb with the same number of lumens, the larger bulb will light a room with a softer brightness, casting the entire room in light. However, the smaller bulb will seem piercing and bright and only brighten a small area.
Color is determined by temperature. The temperature for true white light is approximately 6,000 Kelvin. Bulbs with temperatures of 7,000 or more on the Kelvin scale will have a distinct blue glow to them. Bulbs that burn with a lower temperature of 2,000 to 5,000 on the Kelvin scale will have a distinct orange or red glow to them. Mid-range bulbs of approximately 6,000 to 6,500 Kelvin are generally considered white.
For rooms that require a specific ambiance, you might want to experiment with higher or lower temperatures. For rooms that require accurate color grading, you should select bulbs in the 6,000 Kelvin range
Bulbs that burn bright yet without heat are generally the safest bulbs. LED lights are known for their ability to burn bright while creating relatively little thermal energy. Conversely, incandescent bulbs burn bright and hot. In the right circumstances, these types of lights are a fire hazard.
Additionally, outdoor lights can burn much hotter than indoor lights. As such, you need to read the labels and take note of the heat warnings. For instance, placing an outdoor light near a wall can char the paint. Placing it near something with a low combustion point can start a fire.
Of course, you must consider the use to which the bulb will be put. For instance, if you want to use it in a home office, you might want a true white bulb that is good for studying or working. However, if you want to light a bedroom, you might want a different temperature to create a calming mood.
In terms of health, a bulb that shines at a frequency of 30 flashes per second can cause a seizure. Additionally, some lights, such as fluorescent lights, can cause a migraine because they flicker. LED lights do not flicker, so you can save yourself some pain by avoiding any light that flickers.
The healthiest bulbs
- LED lights: do not flicker
- incandescent lights: do not flicker
- smart bulbs: do not flicker
- CTO lights: for people with color blindness
Are smart bulbs worth it?
Wondering if smart bulbs are worth the cost is common among people wanting to install a smart system in their home. The short answer is yes. For anyone wanting to customize the lighting in their home, a smart bulb is one that connects to your phone or a computer console. From there, you can schedule when it lights and how bright the light should be. In terms of home automation, the smart bulb can also save you money because it can shut itself off as needed.