We have seen our share of lighting developments over the years, but the complete evolution of lighting goes back much further. Read about it here!
We Need Light!
Since the beginning of time, humans have had a profound need for light. The lighting industry essentially began because of our need to see the sunlight and recreate it at all times of the day.
So now we’ve laid the groundwork. Trying to recreate the light we see naturally has been an age old task. But where did we go from there?
Our earliest attempts at lighting can be seen in in the forms of fires and torches; but, as history marched on, having sufficient light inside the home became more and more important. As a result, candles emerged as the next big thing in lighting.
Candles
Although people around the world have made candles for centuries, the introduction of the wick was the largest advancement in that area of lighting evolution. The wick allows much more control over how the light burns and provides a more consistent flame.
Although we now have safer options for lighting our homes, candles still make for great decorations. If kids or pets make any kind of flame in your home dangerous, flameless candles are an option as well. They look realistic but avoid an actual flame burning in your house.
Lighting With Gas
Following candles, gas lamps became the next available lighting choice. These lamps, first developed in the late 1700s, created light through the combustion of natural gas or propane. After years of working with candles for lighting, the amount of light gas lamps were able to produce was an immense improvement.
The technology of gas powered lighting spread quickly throughout society during the 1800s. Gas lighting was first used in city street lights, but by 1880, it became a well-established industry that provided home lighting as well.
However, if there is anything we have learned so far, it is that the drive to improve lighting never stops. Just as people warmed up to the idea of lighting with gas, Thomas Edison arrived on the scene with his plans to make electric lighting available to the masses.
Edison and the Incandescent Light Bulb
Contrary to popular opinion, Edison did not invent the light bulb, he only improved it. In fact, light bulbs were invented before Thomas Edison was even born. Shocker, right?!
Edison purchased the patent and improved the design of the light bulb, knowing it could be a revolutionary product. He, and others, improved the bulb’s technology and strove to make it useable in the everyday American’s home. To learn more about Thomas Edison and his work on the incandescent light bulb, check out this blog post.
The incandescent light bulb continued to improve over the years. In 1911, William Coolidge, a physicist working for General Electric (GE) added an improved filament to the bulb. Originally made of carbonized bamboo, this new tungsten filament lasted longer and allowed the bulb to burn brighter.
Halogen Light Bulbs
Next came the halogen light bulb. Patented in 1956, this bulb uses a halogen gas to improve on traditional incandescent light bulbs by increasing the light output and the lifespan of the bulb.
Fluorescent Lighting
As people became more interested in energy efficiency, lighting engineers looked at adapting fluorescent lighting for residential use (fluorescent light bulbs had been in use in commercial settings since the 1930s).
These lamps are filled with mercury vapor and the inside of the bulb is coated with phosphor. When an electrical current is sent through the mercury, it produces ultraviolet light that illuminates the phosphor. To learn more about fluorescent lighting, click here.
To make the fluorescent bulbs more useful in home lighting, another GE engineer decided to bend the long tubes into a spiral shape, making them more compact. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) like this one, although they were too expensive to manufacture in the ‘70s, continued to improve and hit the market as the newest and most efficient in light bulbs decades later.
LED Light Bulbs
Finally, we’ve made it to the latest light bulb advancement: LEDs. LEDs, or Light Emitting Diode bulbs use a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. They also no longer require glass housing like traditional bulbs. Can’t break this light bulb!
As we move towards greater energy efficiency, LEDs have become the favorite. They are more durable, longer lasting, and provide comparable or better quality light than incandescent bulbs.
If you're having a hard time letting go of your incandescent light bulbs or are unsure about LEDs, check out this myth-busting blog post.
Conclusion
Lighting has come a long way and there is no doubt that it will continue to advance. As it does, we will continue to provide you with the lighting products you need.
Hopefully, this overview of the evolution of lighting has given you a better understanding of the history and characteristics of the light bulbs around you.
