Education

EDUCATION – The Evolution of the Lightbulb

Thomas Edison is often credited with the invention of the light bulb. It actually took the work of many scientists to create it.

In 1809, Humphrey Davy used a high powered battery to create a electrical current between two charcoal strips, causing an intense light and the first arc lamp.

In 1820, Warren La Rue was the first to attempt making an incandescent light bulb.
(Incandescent means “emitting light as a result of being heated”.)

Thomas Edison was the first to create a lightbulb that was durable and could last for a long time.

In 1906-10, William Coolidge and the General Electric Company made the first tungsten filament incandescent light bulb, which is pretty close to the light bulb we use today.

Today much energy has been spent trying to find more environmentally friendly, energy-saving ways to create light.

A CFL compact fluorescent lamp) is an energy saving light bulb. CFLs use less power and have a longer life than incandescent light bulbs. They’re more expensive, but they last longer so fewer need to be purchased.

LEDs (or Light Emitting Diodes) are just small light bulbs bunched together, but unlike incandescent bulbs, they don’t have the small piece of fiber “that will burn out, and they don’t get especially hot.” They produce light by the movement of atoms in a silicon material that is sensitive to electricity. There are many benefits to LED lights. The initial cost of an LED is more expensive than other light sources, but because of their efficiency, you end up saving money on your energy costs in the long run. It’s a good idea to recycle them.

How can LED’s benefit you and your home? Click Here to Learn