A Brief History of Lighting Fixtures

Before the invention of electric lighting, people relied on more primitive illumination sources. Candles made from tallow or beeswax and oil lamps filled with animal fat or plant oils like whale and olive oil were commonplace. These sources not only provided light but were also central to many cultural and religious practices. For outdoor lighting, towns and cities often used gas lamps fueled by coal or natural gas. These lamps needed to be lit manually each evening by lamplighters. Torches, made by soaking wood or rags in flammable substances, were also used for temporary lighting needs. These methods, while functional, were less bright and consistent than electric light and often came with the risks of fire and the inconvenience of smoke and odor.

The timeline of artificial lighting has witnessed numerous breakthroughs, each refining the one that came before it. At the pinnacle of invention in the late 19th century was Thomas Edison, a household name synonymous with innovation. Edison was on a streak with his inventions and patents of long-lasting light bulbs and incandescent lamps, not to mention Manhattan’s Pearl Street Station, the first power plant in the United States. As a testament to his ingenuity, by the early 20th century, electricity had not only lit up our homes but also powered many appliances, heralding a new age of convenience.

Edison was not the only inventor during this era of discovery. In 1901, Peter Cooper Hewitt introduced the mercury-vapor lamp, a significant leap in the lighting field. A mere 14 years later, in 1915, Irving Langmuir's exploration led him to the discovery of inert gas, which would play a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of incandescent bulbs. Meanwhile, the inventive Burnie Lee Bebow secured patents for an improved coiled filament design.

In the following decades, countless inventors and scientists took up the baton of innovation. They relentlessly worked on refining lighting systems and fixtures. Their primary objectives were to enhance efficiency and affordability, given the surging dependence of consumers on incandescent lighting. The early designs for whole-house lighting were rudimentary, involving wires threaded across rooms and simple bare bulbs activated by chains. However, as technology progressed, lamps and hanging fixtures empowered individuals, granting them unprecedented control over their indoor environments. This included the liberty to dictate their routines, such as bedtime, which was no longer tethered to the sun's setting.

As the 20th century closed, the world saw the ascent of spiral-shaped compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Their popularity skyrocketed as they became more affordable. Remarkably, CFLs consumed about 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and boasted a tenfold lifespan.

Fast forward to the present, and the crown of energy efficiency in lighting is held by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Although their inception dates back to the early 1900s, it took almost a century to perfect their color temperatures. Today, LEDs are increasingly affordable and have an impressive lifespan ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 hours, equivalent to 12 years of use. An LED bulb outlasts a CFL 2 to 4 times and an incandescent bulb 25 to 35 times. Furthermore, LEDs are characterized by their cool temperature, distinguishing them from their CFL and incandescent counterparts.