Whats the difference between fluorescent, incandescent, halogen and HID globes?

• CFL's turn electricity into light rather than heat

• small amount of mercury sealed inside the bulb

• last much longer than traditional incandescent light globes

Incandescent globes:

• traditional globe turning electricity mainly into heat, with light as a by-product

• globes are hot to touch

• the first form of electric lighting in the home

• highly disposable compared to fluorescent tubes
  

Halogen lights (also known as low-voltage lights):

• type of incandescent light, are mainly used for recessed down-lights

• large portion of energy used is expelled as heat not light,like incandescent globes

• fitted with transformers to convert the standard household240 volts to 12 volts

• narrow light beam when compared to the other types of globes so several are required instead of one incandescent or fluorescent light bulb

• actually use more energy per square metre of light than fluorescent globes

High-intensity discharge (HID):

• family of lamps producing high light output for their size,including:

• mercury vapour

• metal halide

• low-pressure sodium

• high-pressure sodium

• powerful, compact and efficient light source

• created in the 1960s and used widely as industrial lighting -now used in commercial and residential environments

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