There are so many questions about the rapidly changing world of lighting products. With GE, we are glad to offer a few answers to the most important ones here. Today's quest for the best lighting solution is a matter of balancing economic, environmental and product performance needs. The key is understanding what it is that makes each bulb different. Incandescent Lamps are the most familiar type of light source, with countless applications in homes, stores and other commercial settings.
Light is produced by passing electric current through a thin wire filament, usually of tungsten.
Their advantages include low initial cost, excellent color qualities, good optical control, and versatility. Halogen lamps are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be found in a variety of lighting applications including accent and display lighting, car headlamps, and outdoor floodlighting. High Intensity Discharge Lamps rely on light emitted by a gas or vapor when excited by an electric current flowing through it. A ballast is needed to start the lamp and to regulate its operation. Discharge lamps have overwhelming energy efficiency advantages over incandescent sources where applicable.