Fluorescent light technology is not new and has been around for over a 150 years. It is the result of hard work and time invested by scientists and inventors. The history is interesting and if you want to know about it, then read on.
19th Century
The earliest fluorescent lights were first invented in 1856 by Heinrich Geissler. He had found that gas-filled tubes were able to produce some luminance when they’re stimulated by electricity. It’s amusing to know that he had not intended to discover this. Nevertheless, his inventions became an important part to the future development of fluorescent technology. As the end of the 19th century drew close, many scientists experimented with Geissler’s findings and adapted them to their own work. One of these was the late great Thomas Edison and he expanded upon Geissler’s work (and other scientists) and created the first long-lasting light bulb that we know today.
Early 20th Century
In 1901 the first success in fluorescent lighting took place and it was invented by Peter Cooper Hewitt who designed a bulb that had mercury sealed inside a tube. The ends of the tube were then supplied with electricity and that excited the low-pressure mercury. The result was UV light and the idea never took off at the time, because people didn’t like the strange light. In 1926 Edmund Germer was able to improve that technology and as a result the fluorescent light was stabilized somewhat and fine changes enabled a more pleasantly colored light to be emitted. This resulted in immediate success for the fluorescent light bulb.
Mid 20th Century
As World War II was approaching, General Electric, or GE, purchased the patent for fluorescent light from Germer. This was the beginning of worldwide promotions for this new type of light bulb and it was even showcased at the World’s Fair in New York during the year 1939. Only during the war did energy efficiency become a priority and as a result incandescent lighting was being replaced with fluorescent lighting which was more energy efficient. The use of this bulb in businesses caused the demand for fluorescent bulbs to increase dramatically.
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.
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