A short history of the light bulb

The electric light bulb is one the most abiding symbols of technical advancement. From its early conception at the turn of the 19^th century to the present day where the image of the light bulb is still used to represent the notion of a good idea, the design of the light bulb has changed relatively little. However, with efficiency requirements and customer tastes becoming more advanced lighting technology is once again changing rapidly. In this article I will chart the progress of the light bulb, starting with the earliest experiments with platinum filaments to today’s most advanced LED bulbs.

One of the most consistent and interesting themes in this subject area is the aversion to change that inventors and innovators contend with at each new technological advancement. This point can be illustrated with the candle light bulb; the bulb was designed to replicate the aesthetics of a candle in fittings such as chandeliers (the earliest chandeliers were purely functioning as a way of increasing the light output from candles). The candle shaped bulb is now one of the most popular CFL styles due to the potential cost savings from multiple bulb fittings.

When discussing the incandescent lamp one name features more prolifically than any other, Thomas Edison. Historians Robert Friedel and Paul Israel named over twenty inventors of the light bulb before Edison, however they concluded that Edison’s design surpassed earlier attempts because of effective incandescent material, a higher vacuum and higher resistance making the bulb easy to power and therefore economically viable.

Thomas Hughes ascribed the success of Edison’s design to the fact he had invented an entire lighting system, ‘other inventors with generators and incandescent lamps, and comparable ingenuity and excellence, have long been forgotten because their creators did not preside over their introduction in a system of lighting’ (Hughes).

The first incandescent light was created by Humphry Davy in 1802, 45 years before Edison was born, by passing an electric current through a thin strip of platinum, chosen for its high melting point. The light produced was not bright enough nor did it last long enough to be practical.

James Lindley took up the baton in 1835 demonstrating his electric light at a public meeting; however he then turned his attention to other fields leaving the way clear for Walter De la Rue. In 1840 De la Rue passed an electrical current through a coiled platinum filament- enclosed in a vacuum. The theory being that an evacuated bulb would contain fewer gas molecules to react with the platinum, thus prolonging its illumination time. This was a significant advancement; however the use of platinum made the design unfeasible for commercial use.

In 1858 Joseph Wilson Swan began working with carbonised paper filaments but was hindered by the lack of a good vacuum until he teamed up with Charles Stearn, an expert on vacuum pumps. Swan then turned his attention to efficiency, producing better carbon filaments, and in 1880 he began installing light bulbs in his home in Gateshead, England.

Thomas Edison began research into the incandescent lamp in 1878, settling on the carbon filament. His first test in 1879 lasted for 13.5 hours, however several months later Edison discovered that a carbonised bamboo filament could last for over 1200 hours.

Meanwhile in the U.S Hiram S. Maxim started his United States Electric Lighting Company becoming the second man, after Edison, to install incandescent lamps at the Mercantile Safe Deposit Company in New York City. Edison and Swan joined forces to form Ediswan (later to become Thorn lighting), and eventually Edison acquired all of Swan’s interests in the company.

Advancements continued and in 1910 William David Coolidge invented a method of making tungsten filaments more efficient, making the light bulb even more cost effective.

From 1913 to 1930 innovators turned their attentions to the use of inert gases in the bulb to improve efficiency further. In 1930, Imre Brody settled on a mix of krypton and xenon and to reduce costs, also developed a method of capturing krypton from air at his factory in Ajka, Hungary.

The latest significant development in the lighting sector has been the introduction of ‘energy saving’ light bulbs or compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). Although they are considered a relatively modern invention CFLs were first conceived by Pete Cooper in the late 1980s and were originally used in the photography industry. The first practical florescent lamp was designed by George Inman from General Electric and became the blueprint for the modern CFL invented by Ed Hammer and General Electric in response to the 1973 oil crisis. Although the design met all of its requirements, it was never mass manufactured due to the cost of mass production, however the design was subsequently leaked and copied.

The steady increase in CFL production continues to this day but with the phasing out of inefficient incandescent bulbs, consumption is expected to increase more sharply. By September 2012 no incandescent bulbs will be available reducing carbon emissions and consumer energy costs.

So what is the future of electric lighting? Many people believe that the answer lies with LED bulbs. Originally used in devices such as alpha numerical displays and pocket calculators the LEDs have recently seen successful application in commercial and domestic lighting. LEDs can last for up to 50,000 times as long as incandescent bulbs and the most advanced bulbs can produce a high light output while consuming a fraction of the energy. Although the initial cost of the lighting is high, the bulbs will more than pay for themselves in their lifetime. LED bulbs have a fast on/off time and can withstand a high frequency of cycling making them ideal for car headlights, theatrical spotlights, traffic lights and dynamic road signs as well as household and domestic lighting.

It is clear that lighting technology has come a long way since Edison’s first experiments and the contact we have with lighting everyday encourages advancements to continue.

(Greenhouse Organisation, 2009)

Green Sustainability- The answer to economic recovery?

In the weeks it took for the global recession to turn from an alien concept to a reality for millions of households and businesses throughout the UK, the amount of coverage given to ‘Green’ issues would suggest a significant change in the public perception.

                Environmental issues have long been greeted with anything from malaise to contempt in the popular press as journalists try and find new angles on a very simple hypothesis- ‘we are destroying our planet’. Indeed an emerging optimistic argument would suggest that the earth is in a voluntary cycle of warming and humans are flattering themselves by thinking they can make a difference- one way or the other.

                However with national governments straining under the weight of bail-out debts and businesses unable to access vital credit another crucial ingredient has been added to the environmental broth- cost. It is suddenly patently obvious that global financial systems can no longer function on there current practices, regulation needs to be tightened, risk takers need to be held to account and sustainability must replace boom and bust.

This has been recognised by the Obama administration who have ring-fenced $150 billion dollars in green energy recognising that in order to reduce cost they must start at the beginning with energy cost and sustainability. Although short term costs maybe higher particularly in replacement and development, the US government recognises that the fastest way to recover from a recession is not to weather the storm but to change and adapt, using the gale-force winds to excel.

But is not just global politics where sustainable decisions are made, its in the households and businesses across the UK who recognise that now, more than ever, is the time to switch to a more sustainable way of life, simple things like proper insulation and swapping your light bulbs for energy saving bulbs. These easy steps will not conquer the global recession on their own, but it will help you save those valuable pounds that are so important in the current climate.

It is easy to become depressed watching the news or reading the paper hearing the constant themes of unemployment, reduced output and increased taxes however unless we learn from the this recession that sustainability, both financial and environmental is paramount in our global recovery it will have all been in vain.

(Greenhouse Organisation, 2009)

Is Solar power the answer to energy independence?

An uncertain global economy is causing fluctuating energy prices, is it time to claim energy independence through solar technology or is it an unnecessary cost during the economic downturn?

A barrel of oil, which reached an all time high of $147 in mid 2008, is now worth $73, a drop of more than half, although it’s a dramatic drop it has been mirrored in many other fuels. However the average household energy bill, which increased by up to one third in the summer hike, is yet to see the benefit of the falling market. Ed Mayo (2009), chief executive of Consumer Focus, confirms, ‘Energy companies all put their prices up arguing that it was down to rising cost of oil and gas, but now that is reversed, we are seeing delay, blather and procrastination’.

This situation is particularly infuriating when placed in the context of a global recession. As consumer goods become more expensive and household incomes are slashed, cheaper energy could be a lifeline for families and businesses alike and would facilitate a speedier recovery from the downturn. Collusion between the ‘big six’ energy companies has also been questioned, with providers increasing costs at the same time and now delaying cuts together to ensure maximum profits.

With condemnation coming from all directions including the Prime Minister’s office and so little action it is clear that the industry regulators are ineffectual and the companies are free to hold the consumer to ransom.

It is easy to become frustrated when reading this information and it’s not hard to see why more and more people are taking control of their own energy needs by installing PV solar power technology.

                Solar power isn’t a new technology, in fact it dates back to ancient times when the Greeks and the Chinese would design buildings that faced towards the south to provide optimum heat and light, however active harnessing of solar energy had its first significant application as a back-up power supply to the Vanguard I satellite in 1958 becoming a prototype for today’s residential PV solar panels. Throughout the 1960s the high cost of solar cells meant that terrestrial use was limited, however in the 1970s price levels made PV technology a feasible option for remote areas without grid access such as oil rigs and telecom stations. The rising cost of fuel continued to drive the enhancement of the technology until the early 1980s when a falling oil price led to a reduction in funding, shifting leadership in the sector from the US to Germany and Japan.

                Now that energy efficiency has been placed high on the agenda of many national governments, all sorts of initiatives are available for households and businesses willing to generate their own power. Across Europe many countries have long established ‘Feed-in’ tariffs allowing individuals to sell their surplus energy back to the grid, encouraging energy sustainability through financial incentives, dispelling one of the major drawbacks of solar, the installation cost.

                The second drawback with this energy is that it requires greater efficiency on the part of individuals; in order to make the most out of solar power many recognise that by fitting energy saving light bulbs, using energy efficient appliances and turning electronic devices off standby can help to generate more excess power and thus more money, as William Lord (2009), owner of the world famous ‘Maine Solar House’ explains, ‘Your lifestyle need not be compromised - just made more efficient’.

                The idea of a major shift to solar technologies has always been seen as a ‘pie in the sky’ futuristic idea, and it is true that the technologies on offer today could not supply the major heavy industries, however by adopting more efficient technologies smaller businesses and households could be running on solar power, not only cutting their high-priced energy overheads but also making money selling the excess.

(Greenhouse Organisation, 2009)