The Great Internet Light Bulb Book explains that halogen bulbs last longer than incandescent lightbulbs because their filament remains intact for longer. Tungsten filaments evaporate as they are used until the day they finally break. Evaporated tungsten collects on the inside of the lightbulb. The halogen in halogen lightbulbs redeposits the evaporated tungsten back onto the filament, giving the bulb a longer life.
Other than lasting longer than the standard incandescent lightbulb, halogen bulbs emit a pure white light which is ideal for wherever bright light is needed, such as in stores, work areas and study areas. With halogens, there is instant start-up with no flickering, according to Electronic Manufacturers. Halogen bulbs that are operated on dimmer switches are more energy-efficient and last longer than average.
The halogen cycle works only while under extreme temperatures. Only when a halogen lightbulb's surface reaches temperatures of more than 250 degrees Celsius can the halogen cycle take place. For this reason, halogen lightbulbs are made of quartz or heat-resistant hard glass. Most of the heat involved with halogen bulbs is in the tungsten filament, which can reach several thousand degrees Fahrenheit.
A halogen bulb consists of a large outer bulb that encompasses a smaller bulb which contains the halogen fill-gas. The average halogen lightbulb is rated to last between 2.000 and 6,000 hours. According to the California Energy Commission, halogen lights require 20 percent less energy than traditional incandescent lights. Regularly operating a typical 100-watt halogen bulb will cost the consumer $40 per year, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station.
Halogen lighting technology is not as efficient as other types of lighting. Halogen bulbs also burn much hotter than many other types of lightbulbs, such as fluorescents. One of the biggest drawbacks for consumers is the fact that a halogen lightbulb can cost four times as much as an incandescent lightbulb of the same wattage, according to Reader's Digest.