Whether you view them from the lens of inefficient energy wasters or a natural light "vitamin," there is a lot to be said for this original, analog light technology. Yet - there's a reason why so many of our customers still prefer the pure light of our incandescent light bulbs - there simply isn't any other light source quite like it (save the sun!)
What is an incandescent light bulb?
Incandescence is the emission of visible light by a hot object. Whether that be burning embers, a candle flame, an incandescent light bulb, or the sun -- all provide visible light through the process of incandescence! An incandescent light bulb uses electricity to heat its filament until it is hot enough to glow and produce visible light (by electrical resistance). The higher a bulb's wattage, the brighter the filament glows.
Benefits of Incandescent Light Bulbs
In our complicated, wired and tired modern lives, often times the simplest things can make the greatest impact. Light bulbs are no different: the "simple" light of incandescence can make a huge differnce in your overall well-being!
A few important benefits of incandescent light bulbs are:
- A full and nourishing spectrum of balanced visible light
- Plenty of regnerative infrared light
- Close to zero blue light content
- Low flicker / No EMF
Incandescent Light Bulbs FAQ
Is Incandescent better than LED?
Each lighting technology has its strong points: LED maximizes the ratio of visible light to energy expenditure, whereas incandescent uses a comparatively large amount of energy for little visible light.
To say incandescent light bulbs are better than LED would depend on your priorities! If your priority is to maximize healing and rest, than the soothing light of incandescent light bulbs is best. On the other hand, if you need to illuminate a large space efficiently, perhaps it's best to use a mix of healthy LEDs overhead to fill your space with a general background of illumination, using incandescent only in areas where you'll be in close proximity (lamps in your office, floor lamps by the couch, or bedside table lamps, for example), using those more sparingly and only when they'll be in use.
Choose which you use depending on what is most important to you, or even better, mix it up!
Is incandescent light better for your eyes?
The general consensus is that LED light bulbs are bad for your eyes. So what makes incandescent light bulbs better for your eyes?
- No UV
- Low Flicker: The flicker present in most fluorescent and LED bulbs can be bothersome for most, causing nausea, headaches, and the inability to focus your eyes. For those with light sensitivity, it's best to forgo fluorescent and LED: while possible to eliminate flicker to a degree in these sources, it may not be worth the associated cost and headache.
- No blue light: We get enough blue light from our daily usage of smartphones and computer screens, so it's probably best not to rely entirely on LED sources. While blue light itself isn't inherently bad, the electronic nature of blue light from LEDs can be straining and cause dry eyes. There's also been studies claiming possible damage to the retina over long-term exposure of digital blue light.
That leaves us with incandescent technology providing the softest, most neutral light. When it comes to our health at least, there are some things that are best left to the analog sources of light!
What is the difference between halogen and incandescent light bulbs?
A halogen light bulb is in many ways just an enhanced version of incandescent light! You get all the same health benefits of a full spectrum of visible light and infrared, but the light output will skew slightly more blue, making it the perfect bulb for morning/daytime use! The main difference is that the incandescent filament is encapsulated with halogen gas, allowing the filament burn brighter and work more efficiently. Learn more about halogen versus incandescent light.
What is the difference between Chromalux® incandescent bulbs and normal incandescent light bulbs?
While incandescent light bulbs are full of amazing health benefits straight out of the box they still don't replicate all colors purely - casting a yellow tint to everything - which is unlike how we see things under natural daylight!
Chromalux® is our branded technology using neodymium compounded glass that takes incandescent light further - purifying and enhancing the visible spectrum of light produced so colors (particularly reds and blues - the colors our eyes are least sensitive to) are enhanced and vibrant, while contrast is increased.
By passing visible light through our special glass, the colors are reestablished and enhanced, while still keeping that lovely warm and cozy incandescent glow we love!