What Light?

Did you know that pure sunlight carries all the colors in the rainbow? This is, perhaps, why you feel (and see) so well in pure sunlight. As you try to mimic sunlight in your home, and maintain efficiency, you will find it is nearly impossible. This is because artificial light produces a narrower color band than pure sunlight. You can however, come close, by choosing the right light source, depending on the need in your home. Artificial light is rated by the experts according to its color temperature and along a Color Rendition Index (CRI). The color temperature tells how warm or cool a light source appears to the eye. CRI is used to compare how well colors will appear under different light sources. The CRI of a Halogen light is the brightest (about 95) and cool white Fluorescent, the lowest, at about 60. Following are some insights on three different light sources; Incandescent, Fluorescent and Halogen.

Your basic light bulb is an incandescent bulb. It is popular mostly because of cost and availability; not efficiency. Ninety percent of its energy is wasted producing heat. The light given off by an incandescent bulb is really a byproduct of making heat. In addition, these bulbs slowly darken at the end of their life, emitting twenty percent less light than when new but still consuming the same amount of energy. Nevertheless, most people prefer incandescent light again, due to cost and availability. Fluorescent lighting is standard in most commercial settings like offices and stores. They can also be used in various areas of the home including garages and basements Fluorescent tubes can last ten to twenty times longer than incandescent bulbs and use about 3/8 the electricity that an incandescent uses.

Traditional fluorescent lights emitted a cool, bluish hue but today, the manufacturers are making them more to the warmer colors that come closer to the reddish yellow quality of incandescent lighting. Halogen bulbs combine the best of incandescent and fluorescent lights to make a clean white light. It is most pleasing to the eyes and is preferred for reading and close work. There are screw in types that can replace standard light bulbs and last up to four times longer than incandescent bulbs. Remember mimicking the sunlight in your home in next to impossible. But choosing the right type of bulb, depending on its use and application, can help you come pretty close.

Thomas J. Monaghan
Ridge Line Home Inspection LLC
414-530-7773