Fluorescent lighting has been around for more than 150 years. The research and development of the technology is due to the hard work of many brilliant inventors and scientists. If you'd like to know more about the history of fluorescent lights, then read onward.
19th Century
Heinrich Geissler was the man who first developed the fluorescent light in 1856 and it was something he didn't do on purpose. He filled tubes with gas that produced light after they were stimulated by electricity. This invention had a major part in the future developments of fluorescent light technology and by the end of the century there were many who were doing their own experiments which were based on the findings from Geissler. Thomas Edison was one of those who experimented with the technology and he was able to invent the first light bulb that lasted a long time.
Beginning of the 20th Century
The first fluorescent light was successfully made in 1901 by Peter Cooper Hewitt. He created a bulb that contained a tube on the inside that was filled with mercury and the low pressure mercury was then excited by electricity, resulting in UV light. This invention never made waves due to the strange light produced by this bulb. However, in 1926 the technology was improved upon by Edmund Germer who managed to stabilize the bulb and make the emitted light look more attractive. Success came fast after these changes.
Middle of the 20th Century
Near the beginning of World War 2, GE (General Electric) bought the fluorescent technology patent from Germer. Due to this, the fluorescent light bulb gained global promotion. It was showcased in New York at the World's Fair in 1939. Energy efficiency first became somewhat of a priority during WW2 and the incandescent lighting started to be gradually replaced by the more efficient fluorescent lighting. Demands began to soar as organizations and businesses started using fluorescent bulbs.
Last-quarter 20th Century
After the war and up to the 1960s the fluorescent light bulb was often used by businesses and even many organizations. Although a great alternative to incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lighting wasn't compatible with residential light fixtures because the bulbs did not fit. GE changed that during the 1970s when the company developed the Compact Fluorescent Lamp, or CFL.
In the Near Future
With the gradual rise of the Green Movement (which started in the mid 90s), fluorescent lighting has become a powerful option for many people who want to contribute to energy efficiency, and ultimately, environmental stability. With the more recent Green Economy proposal, spearheaded by US President Barack Obama, energy efficiency will certainly be at the top of the list of priorities and fluorescent technology will be among them.
Related posts:
- Flush Mount Outdoor Lighting: A Reflection Of Indoors Do not ever neglect the outdoors of your house. It...
- Saving Money With Energy Efficiency In our current world economy, we are all trying to...
- Important Parts Of Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency in the home is very important as you...
- How To Save On Company Electric Bill In today's economic world, with a global recession affecting most...
- Energy Efficiency: Balancing Cost And Output Methods and techniques that reduce the energy level required to...