Incandescent light bulbs typically only last for 750 hours. Halogen light bulbs can last between 2,000 and 6,000 hours. Fluorescent light bulbs last for around 7,500 hours. Metal halide bulbs will last between 10,000 and 15,000 hours. High-pressure sodium bulbs can last between 12,000 and 24,000 hours. LEDs can last up to 50,000 hours, longer than any other type of light bulb.
The term "lumens" is used as a measurement of the light output intensity of light sources. Incandescent light bulbs put out around 17.5 lumens per watt. Fluorescent bulbs put out between 60 and 80 lumens per watt. 250-watt metal halide light bulbs put out around 58 lumens per watt. 250-watt high-pressure sodium light bulbs typically produce around 87 lumens per watt. According to ToolBase.org, LEDs put out around 20 lumens per watt.
Many light bulbs contain elemental mercury. Fluorescent light bulbs contain around 5 mg of mercury. 250-watt metal halide light bulbs contain about 38 mg of mercury. 250-watt high-pressure sodium light bulbs contain about 15 mg of mercury. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs as well as LEDs contain no mercury.
Incandescent light bulbs and halogen light bulbs are some of the only types of light bulbs that produce light by heating up a tungsten filament. Most other types of light bulbs like fluorescent light bulbs emit light by running electricity through certain gases like mercury and argon.
Certain light bubs emit light in different parts of the visible light spectrum. Incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, fluorescent bulbs and metal halide bulbs emit mostly white to whitish, blue light. High-pressure sodium bulbs emit yellow, orange reddish light. LEDs are available in models that emit many colors including white, yellow, green, blue and red.