mazpot
Active Member
Because of their poor efficency, incandescents have been essentially legislated out of existence in the USA.
Rather than losing much of their business, the lighting company's engineers have gone back to the drawing board.
Available now are bulbs that are 30% more effecient than last years. Next year they should be up 100% and within a few years they are slated to be on a par with CFLs or about 4 times more lumen output from the same wattage.
Now, despite a common misconception, incandescents have a great spectrum for plant growing, it is just that too much energy is wasted as heat and the life expectancy of a bulb is quite short. I currently use a low wattage incandescent in flowering as the light is rich in deep red, far red and infrared -areas most other grow lights are lacking in. (I recommend about 10% total wattage in incandescent - try it!)
If the engineers deliver on these promises we may have a new source of great supplemental lighting. And of course, the CFL manufacturers will not stand idly by and will be forced to make their lights more efficient. A win-win!
Rather than losing much of their business, the lighting company's engineers have gone back to the drawing board.
Available now are bulbs that are 30% more effecient than last years. Next year they should be up 100% and within a few years they are slated to be on a par with CFLs or about 4 times more lumen output from the same wattage.
Now, despite a common misconception, incandescents have a great spectrum for plant growing, it is just that too much energy is wasted as heat and the life expectancy of a bulb is quite short. I currently use a low wattage incandescent in flowering as the light is rich in deep red, far red and infrared -areas most other grow lights are lacking in. (I recommend about 10% total wattage in incandescent - try it!)
If the engineers deliver on these promises we may have a new source of great supplemental lighting. And of course, the CFL manufacturers will not stand idly by and will be forced to make their lights more efficient. A win-win!