Lighting

Do you know what type of lighting is used in your dorm and classrooms? Lighting can be one of the easiest areas to increase the energy efficiency of a building. Something as simple as changing your brand or type of lightbulb can make a significant difference. There are many styles of lighting, and with increasing technology efficiency increases all the time. On this page you will find background information on types of bulbs, lighting styles, lighting controls, and the energy conservation that results from choosing the most efficient lighting setup.

Lighting Background
Lumen value = the amount of light a lamp gives off
Lumens do not tell us how the light is distributed

Candle power = the intensity of the light in a direction

Illumination = the amount of light hitting a square foot
We want to see the light reflected from surfaces, not the actual illumination

General illumination should be kept below 30 foot candles

Brightness = the illumination and reflection we see
Bright lights cause more glare than dim lights

Lighting Efficiency/Conservation
Commercial (1992)
41% of electricity and 28% of total energy consumed is lighting.
could have been reduced 39-83%

Residential (1992)
7% of electricity consumed is lighting
Could have been reduced by 1/3

Possible that 50% of the total energy used on campuses to provide all lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation needs could be saved just through more efficient lighting

The design and placement of lighting, the type of and number of bulbs used, and the maintenance of the lighting can all contribute to this 50% reduction

Generally energy conservation has a 3 year payback period

Links/Sources