Energy efficient lighting

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Energy efficient lighting can reduce household energy usage by 50% to 70% while still maintaining a healthy and happy well-lit atmosphere. When designing or remodeling a home, understanding some basic principles of lighting can ensure a safely, energy-efficient home.

Energy efficient lighting relies on lighting quantity and quality, energy consumption and lighting uses. Below are some basic definitions in order for you to get started:

• Lighting Quantity refers to the illumination, lumen and footcandle of lighting. Illumination is the distribution of the light over a surface area. Lumen is the measurement of light emitted and footcandle is the intensity of the light.

• Light Quality considers the color temperature and rendition as well as the glare of a light. Color temperature is the color of the light source, while rendition is how color appears in the light.

• Energy Consumption refers to the ratio of light created to energy used.

• Light Uses includes ambient, task and track lighting. General indoor and outdoor lighting is considered ambient, while desk and table lamps as well as bathroom mirror lighting is task lighting. Track lighting refers to lighting that draws attention to a certain area or object.

To get the most out of your energy efficient lighting, map out your home and its use of daylight in each season before deciding which light quantity and quality is best for your light use.