Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb still has a wide number of practical applications in industry. An incandescent light bulb emits light when its filament, made of tungsten, gets heated to several thousand degrees. Inert gases or vacuums are constructed in the bulb to keep the filament from prematurely deteriorating. Incandescent bulbs start instantly after power is introduced and provide an excellent color rendering, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. This type of light bulb is also linked with a low initial purchase cost. The largest drawback linked with this type of bulb is inefficiency. A small percentage of the energy required to operate these bulbs actually goes into the production of visible light. A lot of energy is given off in the form of heat.
Fluorescent light bulbs are widely used for industrial lighting purposes. Fluorescents produce light when electricity passes between electrodes, reacting with fill gases like mercury and argon. Photons react with the phosphor inner coatings of these bulbs, resulting in the production of visible light. This type of light bulb is much more efficient and longer-lasting than traditional incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs can last for more than times longer than incandescent bulbs, according to Earth Easy, a company whose mission is to provide consumers with information on sustainable living and how to reduce their impact on the environment. Consumers can purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs that fit in standard, incandescent light bulb sockets. Fluorescent bulbs produce a similar color rendering to incandescent bulbs.
HID bulbs such as mercury vapor, metal halide and high-pressure sodium bulbs are some of the most powerful and efficient types of light bulbs on the market. HID lights produce visible light when an arc or electricity is drawn through gases. These types of light bulbs produce extremely generous light outputs but require a considerable amount of energy to operate. These light bulbs can last for twice as long as fluorescent bulbs. For example, high-pressure sodium bulbs are rated to last about 24,000 hours. Like fluorescent bulbs, HID bulbs require a ballast to operate properly. They can take several minutes to warm up and reach full brightness. They are also more expensive than most other types of industrial lights on the market.