You’ve probably heard that LED light bulbs are the future. And while they have their place, halogen bulbs are still useful too. Here’s 7 reasons why.
Thanks to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, there’s been a few changes with regard to lightbulbs.
Essentially, the law states that lighting should be more energy-efficient.
The law mostly applies to what it terms “general service lamps”, which covers most of your basic household lamps and fixtures.
There are a few lighting fixtures that are exempt from the law.
These include:
- Appliance lamps
- Rough service bulbs
- 3-way bulbs
- Colored lamps
- Stage lighting
- Plant lights
- Candelabra lights under 60 watts
- Outdoor post lights less than 100 watts
The first wave of regulations swept through in 2012, taking with it the classic incandescent bulb.
Energy efficient options started to spring into the marketplace. Store shelves were stocked with CFLs, LEDs, and halogen bulbs.
Although changes are coming and there are a lot of options out there, we’ve got seven great reasons why you should stick with halogen bulbs.
First – What Is A Halogen Bulb?
Before we do a deep dive into why you’ll want to install these types of bulbs in all of your fixtures, let’s break down what, exactly, they are.
With an incandescent bulb, an electric current passes through a thin tungsten filament.
The filament, in turn, is heated to a bright white heat, producing a glow.
As the filament burns, the tungsten wears away until it eventually breaks – that classic “pop!” you hear when a lightbulb burns out.
Halogen bulbs are similar but there are a few differences.
Inside a halogen bulb is the same tungsten filament an incandescent bulb has but there’s halogen gas inside.
The halogen mixes with the tungsten as it burns and re-deposits it back on the filament.
This brings us to our first reason for buying these bulbs over all the others.
1. Halogen Bulbs Last Longer
Because they re-deposit the tungsten on the filaments, halogen bulbs can really go the distance.
They produce a brighter light than an incandescent and last longer, making them a great choice for energy efficiency.
Halogen bulbs can burn for about 3,600 hours, three times more than incandescent lights.
2. Brighter Light
Halogen bulbs burn at higher temperatures producing a brighter and whiter light than an incandescent bulb.
When you need a good, solid light, halogen bulbs will provide the strong, crisp lighting you need.
3. Good To Go
Unlike CFLs, halogen bulbs don’t need a warming up period.
The moment you turn them on, they produce a beautiful, strong light, so there’s no waiting around in the dark.
4. Dimmable
In case you do want softer lighting, halogen bulbs are completely dimmable.
You can create soft mood lighting with halogen that you couldn’t with other bulbs.
5. Popular
Have you seen the ultra popular retro Edison lights?
They’re in practically every New York establishment and have taken over the world of interior decorating.
Recreate this classic look with halogen lighting.
6. Cheap Heat
This is a weird trick, but a good one.
If you live in a place where it gets cold, halogen lights can keep you warm.
A halogen bulb produces heat when it burns.
You’re going to light your house anyways; use a few halogen bulbs to bring the cost of heating down.
7. Works Great For Businesses Too
Since halogen bulbs produce such clear and crisp light, they’re great for businesses applications too.
If you have an outdoor area that needs lighting or a product you want to spotlight, halogen bulbs are perfect.