A Bright Idea - Daylight Savings

Incandescent, Halogen, Fluorescent or LED. 

With all the advances in lighting technology and sustainable materials these days,  it has become increasingly confusing to know what, why, and how to choose lighting.  From fixture styles to light source, from placement to size, there is no better time than daylight savings for some tips and advice to clear up the confusion. 

Natural lighting is so important to our psyche but don’t forget how the space functions at all times of the day or night. Make sure to provide enough artificial lighting to compensate for overcast days or night time.

LAYERS OF LIGHTING  Understanding the levels and layers of light sources in a room. 

  

The AMBIENT LAYER is general overhead lighting such as, recessed, ceiling mounted or chandelier. The Ambient Layer provides the overall lighting in a room. It provides the light for moving around and basic visual recognition; it does not illuminate specific tasks. 

Donghia

The TASK LAYER is oriented to any area where tasks will be performed such as desk lamps or under-cabinet lights.The Task Layer lights a work space where tasks should occur such as at a desk, in the kitchen or bathroom.

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The FOCAL LAYER is used to focus attention to artwork and displays. In many cases it is designed to be adjustable in case the display changes, for example, from one painting to two.  Track lighting is the most popular use of focal lighting; most museums use track lighting for their adjustability. The idea is to draw the attention to the display, not the lights. 

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

 

The DECORATIVE LAYER is any lighting chosen to enhance the overall feel of a space. It is often referred to as the "jewelry of architecture". It's purpose is aesthetic, to add style and fashion. In some instances, it can double for task when used as a reading lamp on an end table.  

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TECHNOLOGY   

Some of you may find the tedious details of bulb specifications boring. However, I can not stress enough the importance of understanding the color cast by different types of light bulbs. 

 

"Your lighting designs should follow the same concept as the interior design – whether it is cool and contemporary or warm and traditional."

Should you have the patience to read on, bravo! If not, it's all here to refer to sometime in the future. Don't wait too long, technological advances are changing daily....at the speed of light!

Incandescent

Pros

·        Last 750 to 1000 hours

·        Dimming can extend lamp life

·        Color temp is about 2700K

·        Pleasing color

·        Inexpensive

Cons

·        Least energy efficient

·        Loses 95% of energy to heat

Halogen

These bulbs offer a similar color temperature to incandescent bulbs but last longer and are slightly more energy efficient. However, they do get extremely hot.

·        Moderate life (2000 to 4000 hours)

·        Dimmable

·        Appealing color

·        Slightly more efficient than incandescent

·        Color temp is 2800 to 3100K

·        Heat is a problem

Fluorescent

Fluorescent bulbs are becoming more popular as the replacement for incandescent bulbs as we are moving towards higher energy saving standards. They do contain a small amount of mercury but if recycled properly, they actually cause less mercury to be exposed to the atmosphere through lowered energy consumption.  (For recycling information in your area: www.earth911.org )

Pros

·        Good energy efficiency

·        Good color

·        Dimmable

·        Many more decorative fixture styles available

Cons

·        Sensitive to cold

·        Contain Mercury

LED- technology and the environment.

The latest technology allows the LED light bulb to produce about the same amount of light as a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). However, LED light is completely directional, unlike incandescent and fluorescent bulbs which splash light in all directions. LEDs focus their light in one direction, so that you have light exactly where you want it, which is great for task lights but is undesirable in ambient or general lighting fixtures. CFL and incandescent bulbs are better choices for general lighting

LED light bulbs emit a pleasing white light into a space. Unlike the yellowish light we're so used to seeing from incandescent bulbs, the white light cast by LEDs typically has a slightly bluish tinge and is closer to the color temperature of daylight. The white light of LEDs is easier on your eyes and has also been proven to be effective in treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). We have recently seen LEDs produced in warmer white light as well in Kelvin temperature scale ratings of 3500 or lower.

Because of advancing technology and improvements to the manufacturing processes, LED bulbs will soon become more affordable to the average consumer. The Department of Energy has estimated that LED lighting could reduce U.S. energy consumption for lighting by 29% by 2025, saving the nation's households about $125 billion in the process.

 

LED Benefits - At A Glance:

Pros

·   Saves money on electricity

·   Light is comparable to the color of daylight

·   Uses only 2-10 watts of electricity (1/3rd to 1/30th of  incandescent or CFL)

·   Long lasting - up to 60,000-hour bulb life

·   Runs cool (warm to the touch) - generates little heat compared to standard bulbs

·   Works with most dimmer switches

·   Instant on/off

·   Works in cold weather

·   Can sustain moderate power surges

·   Durable bulbs - no fragile filaments to break

·   Directional lighting generates less wasted light

·   Works with sensor-activated lights

·   They are available in many colors excellent for special effects and are now offered in warmer white light comparable to incandescent bulbs.

·   They are extremely small.

·   Some manufacturers are already producing decorative fixtures with LED technology.

Cons

·   They are expensive but are becoming more affordable.

·   There are no standards in place to test LED’s.

Information provided by and courtesy of : The Interior Design Society, bellacorPro and The Layers Approach as taught by Jim Benya in his book Lighting Design Basics,- Wiley Press.