Lightbulbs: Incandescent, Fluorescent, LED (Infographic)

Infographic: Facts about different types of light bulbs,

Facts about the different types of light bulbs. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

In the age of incandescent bulbs, people chose a lightbulb based on the number of watts it produced. Today, lighting choices have expanded, and people shop according to lumens, a unit of brightness. Look for the Lighting Facts label when shopping for bulbs.

Incandescent bulbs work by heating a tungsgten filament to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,200 degrees Celsius).

Compact Fluorescent bulbs work by heating a gas that produces ultraviolet light. The coating inside the bulb converts the invisible ultraviolet light into visible light.

LED bulbs use solid-state light-emitting diodes.

Karl has been Purch's infographics specialist across all editorial properties since 2010. Before joining Purch, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web. He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University.