Light Bulbs Buying Guide

How many people does it take to buy a light bulb?  With a little luck, only one after you read this guide.  You'll notice you have a lot of options, so opt for the variety that best suits your current lifestyle--from environmentally friendly  to super-bright and economical.

Lighting Dictionary

• Watts are the standard units of measure for electricity.
• Lumens are the standard measure of light produced by a bulb. Standard 100-watt bulbs produce about 1600 lumens.
• Life is number of hours a light bulb will last. By comparing the lumens and life of different bulbs of the same wattage, you can find the light bulb that provides you with the best combination of light output and length of life.

Choosing the Right Bulb

Types of Bulbs
Incandescent  These bulbs are the most common and inexpensive.  They also come in a variety of colours and styles to help you create the perfect light that feels warm and can often complement skin tones. Most incandescent bulbs range from 15 to 150 watts. They are less expensive than their halogen and fluorescent counterparts. Colour choices include: Soft white--can be combined with spotlights to highlight architectural features. Yellow--These won't attract insects because they find this colour harder to detect. Amber--supposed to look like a natural flame. Clear-offers one of the brightest lights out of each of the colour choices. Light blue--these have a coating that filters out the yellows. A variety of novelty colours are also available for parties--like black lights.	Fluorescent  These bulbs come in long tubes and U-shapes and last longer than incandescent.  Specifically, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are the most energy-efficient of all light bulbs. The quality of colour used to be an issue for fluorescent bulbs, but contemporary versions come in a bunch of pleasing shades. Sunlight--Good for residential or commercial areas where outdoor light is lacking. Cool white--Best used in office, basement and school environments. Soft white--Like their incandescent counterparts, these are great combined with spotlights. Black light--These bulbs provide special effects for things that glow in the dark.	Halogen  These bulbs use the same basic technology as incandescent bulbs, but they are more efficient and thus cost a little more. Halogens last up to three times longer and produce almost 50 percent more light for the same amount of energy. Halogens give off the brightest, purest light. Shapes/Styles include: A-Line --This classic shape helps showcase the healthy colour. Parabolic Aluminized Reflectors  (PAR)--This outdoor flood bulb is resistant water.

Related Guides

Desk Lamps	Christmas Tree Ornaments and Lights	High Intensity Discharge Lights	Torches

External Links

• BuilderSquare.com: A guide to help you sift through the different styles, shapes and colours.
• Lowes.com: Choosing bulbs made easy.