Halogen light bulbs

Halogen light bulbs

Halogen light bulbs use about 20 to 30 percent less electricity than incandescent light bulbs, so they're not nearly as energy-saving as compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs. Still, halogen bulbs have some distinct advantages. Unlike compact fluorescents, halogen bulbs turn on instantly and are fully dimmable (0 to 100 percent), so they can be used with standard dimmer switches. Frequent on-off cycling doesn't shorten the lifetime of halogen light bulbs, so they're suitable for use in fixtures where a compact fluorescent light bulb would burn out prematurely.

Halogen light bulbs are also safer for the environment, since they contain no mercury. This means they can be disposed of in ordinary household trash, and pose no special risks if broken. Experts recommend halogen lighting for displaying colors to advantage, often describing the light as "crisp and clear." It's also good for task lighting. Color temperature can cover the whole range, but most are cooler than incandescent light bulbs, 3000K or more, with a very high CRI for judging colors.

Only a few halogen light bulbs fit medium-base screw-in fixtures, but Philips now makes the Halogena Energy Saver (*est. $9 for two), using its patented "EcoBoost" technology. By limiting the heat output, a 70-watt Halogena Energy Saver light bulb can replace a 100-watt incandescent (producing 1600 lumens). A 40-watt bulb is also available, producing 800 lumens to replace a 60-watt incandescent. This provides enough savings to meet the standards that come into play in the United States in 2012. (By 2020, however, light bulbs must be 70 percent more efficient.) These light bulbs are rated for two years (at four hours a day usage).

The "pear shape," often called an A-shape, is similar to that of most incandescent light bulbs, so lamp shades can clip onto the light bulb. The bulb is made in two layers to shield the user from UV light. Rated at 3000K, the halogen light is only slightly cooler than the 2700K of typical incandescent light bulbs, and of warm or soft white compact fluorescents. Experts say 3000K light is fine for both general and task lighting.

Though the Philips Halogena Energy Saver light bulbs are getting quite a bit of attention in the press, we found only one hands-on review. This review by Omar Shahine, a Microsoft product manager, is especially useful because it compares the halogen light bulbs with several brands and colors of compact fluorescent bulbs. The author recommends compact fluorescents for fixtures they fit, but praises the light quality of the Halogena Energy Saver light bulbs. He recommends them especially for use with dimmer switches.

Osram Sylvania makes a similar energy-saving halogen light bulb, the Halogen Energy Saver Classic A, but we found no reviews of it. GE also makes energy-saving halogen light bulbs, but though we found them in directional reflector styles, we found none so far in the "A-shape" style that fits table lamps. We did read that A-shape bulbs are in development by Sylvania.

Full-spectrum A-shape halogen light bulbs are also in development at SoLux. We found quite a few reviews by artists and photographers extolling the superiority of SoLux halogen light bulbs for judging colors and displaying artwork. For more general lighting, full-spectrum light bulbs are controversial; more on this below.