the first question

The premise is that heat and light are both transmitted by electromagnetic waves.
Or is it that light is transmitted by photons and heat is transmitted by electromagnetic waves?
In that case what is the meaning of the electromagnetic wave spectrum?
Or, how does a photon carry color information? Assuming it does?

But back to the premise.
Red is a color of light generated in our brains by waves of a certain range of frequencies on the electromagnetic wave spectrum, yes?
Infrared waves are of a slightly lower range of frequencies on the same spectrum that we perceive as what might be called a "heat wave".
The interaction of heat waves with physical objects increases the temperature of those objects. We understand that there is a trade of sorts. In some sense the infrared wave deposits it's energy in physical objects and disappears?
On the other hand, "red electromagnetic waves" have no apparent effect on physical objects. Why is that?

If you radiate heat into a box, you know that soon after the interior of the box will still be warm. You know that the exterior of the box will feel warm and will eventually cool to the temperature of the surroundings.

If you radiate light into the same box, you know that soon after there will be no visible residue.
Where did the light go?

How do color waves (or photons) lose energy? Do they ever dissipate.

When you turn on a light in a room, (and I realize that I am ignoring the speed of light), but the room immediately fills with light. When I turn the light off, the room is immediately empty of light. Why don't we see the gradual dissipation of the reflecting light waves?

Doesn't it make more sense to say that the light bulb disturbs the space it can see and that disturbance ceases as soon as the light is turned off? But if that's the case, what is it that is being disturbed, what is the light medium? I don't think its air. But it might be the purported electromagnetic field.

And finally, then, at that point, why can't we call the electromagnetic field the long sought, but presently disrespected (I think?) aether?