The lamps of yesteryear, incandescents, produce light when electricity heats a thin filament. This causes it to glow. The quality of light is pleasing to many. But the lamps only last about 1,500 hours at best. They’re also inefficient. Roughly 90 percent of the energy is emitted as heat rather than light. Full, partial, or pending bans on incandescants are now in effect for much of the world, including the European Union. So, for now, expect incandescents to become harder to find.
At present the most widely used alternative to incandescents is the spiral-shaped compact fluorescent lamp, or CFL. It is filled with gas that creates light when electrons from the power source flow into the tube and collide with the gas excitable molecules. CFLs have acquired a bad reputation. There were exaggerated longevity claims, the bulbs don’t dim, they produce an unappealing color, and they contain toxic mercury.
Enter the future. LEDs are digital, they are easier to dispose of, and they last longer. They are following an innovation curve akin to other high-tech items like computers and digital cameras. LEDs are semiconductors, and like all solid-state technology, they tend to get better and cheaper as time passes. Organic LEDs, or OLEDs, have carbon based diodes. These lights could be powered for decades on a single small battery. They could be produced on flexible plastic sheets to hang virtually anywhere. They also don’t require an old fashioned socket. For this reason, developing nations are likely to be the first adopters, with Europe and the US playing catch-up.
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