The Benefits of Using Halogen Lights
Among the benefits of using Halogen Lights is that they give off brighter and softer light and use less power than regular incandescent light bulbs. But there are many other benefits to consider if you are contemplating installing these versatile lights in your home or outdoor areas.
Halogen lighting, which has greatly changed the way home lighting is done, come in a variety of sizes and shapes which make them a great choice for track lighting, landscape accents and security flood lights. Low voltage halogen lights are not only economical, but they are safer for some indoor lighting applications.
The list of further benefits of using halogen lights is noteworthy:
A Brighter Light
Halogen bulbs are some of the brightest available, producing a quality of light that more closely mimics sunlight using less power than a standard incandescent bulb. In fact, halogen bulbs can produce up to 5 times as much light as a standard incandescent, depending on the type of halogen bulb you use.
Halogen lights work like regular incandescent bulbs where electricity heats up a filament until it glows. But halogen light bulbs also contain halogen gas and the brighter light comes from a chemical reaction that causes the filament to burn much hotter than a regular incandescent bulb glows.
You can get halogen bulbs in a variety of beam widths, ranging from a narrow spot to create a direct beam on art objects from track lighting, to a very wide flood light for emphasizing decorative home landscapes or security purposes.
Energy-Efficient
Halogens are an efficient way of lighting large areas, especially if you use a halogen IR-type bulb. This is a halogen bulb which reflects infrared light, allowing a 60-watt halogen bulb to produce the same amount of light as a traditional 90-watt halogen bulb or a 120-watt incandescent bulb.
Halogen lights also use only about 50 percent of the electricity needed to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb. While they are not as energy efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs, their light “feels” warmer and more comfortable.
You can also opt for low-voltage halogen lights, which use a transformer much like the small halogen desk lamps. For home use, these operate from a 12-volt transformer that is fitted either in the light fixture itself, or installed in a central remote location for multiple track lights. These low-voltage halogen lights are favored for strip track fixtures, recessed mounted disc lights, and kitchen track or cabinet lights.
Longer Lasting Bulbs
Halogen light bulbs are made using a stronger glass than that used for normal incandescent bulbs because the filament burns hotter than a regular incandescent light. The stronger glass also allows better control of the bulbs interior halogen environment, which contributes to the ability of a halogen bulb to last 2,000 hours or more.
Control Options
Unlike traditional fluorescent light fixtures or energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, halogen light bulb fixtures have options that let you control the amount of light using a dimmer control. This allows you to create a variety of lighting mood environments you can’t accomplish with fluorescent lighting.
Halogen Lighting Applications
Halogen lights are becoming more popular for strip track fixtures, recessed mounted disc lights, and kitchen track or cabinet light applications in both homes and offices. Recessed halogen lighting is also typically installed in new homes in the bedroom, the living room and the study.
These recessed halogen lights can transform your home from average to a more sophisticated look, especially if your home has high ceilings. Kitchen work areas are also a favored site for recessed halogen lighting, since the lighting fixture can be moved and adjusted to point in almost any direction. This works great for adding ambience. For example, a 50-watt halogen bulb with the beam set at a 60-degree angle will give a wide, even light, while a 20-watt bulb with a 10-degree angle gives a more concentrated spot effect.
It is safer to use recessed halogen lights in your bathroom or your closets than using hanging light bulbs or dome fixtures. Bathroom applications lend themselves well to the use of low-voltage halogen lights because they operate on only 12 volts. But some areas of the country actually have strict regulations on the type of light you can use for bathroom lighting, so you should check your local building codes.
One cautionary note: While halogen lights are a great choice for a variety of lighting solutions, the tall, free-standing halogen lamps isn’t one of them. There have been numerous news reports about home and apartment fires caused by these top-heavy lamps being knocked over or placed too close to window curtains. Safety first.
