Lighting Glossary

Ballast
An electrical control device that initiates the light arc in fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID)
lights with high starting voltage.

Candela
The unit of measure for the intensity of light at the source roughly equal to the amount of light in any
direction from the flame of a candle.

Color Rendering Index (CRI)

Color rendering is the ability of a light source to produce color in objects. The CRI is expressed on a scale
from 0-100, where 100 is the best in producing vibrant color in objects. Relatively speaking, a source
with a CRI of 80 will produce more vibrant color in the same object than a source with a CRI of 60.

Color Temperature
A measure of the color of a light source relative to a black body at a particular temperature expressed in
degrees Kelvin (°K). Incandescent lights have a low color temperature (approximately 2800°K) and have a
red-yellowish tone; daylight has a high color temperature (approximately 6000°K) and appears bluish
(the most popular fluorescent light Cool White is rated at 4100°K). Today, the phosphors used in
fluorescent lights can be blended to provide any desired color temperature in the range from 2800°K to
6000°K.

Efficacy
Efficacy is an industry term for the amount of light produced per watt of electricity (comparable to
efficiency). It is the rate at which a light bulb is able to convert electrical power (watts) into light
(lumens), expressed in terms of lumens per watt (LPW). For example, a 100 watt lamp producing 1750
lumens gives 17.5 lumens per watt.

Exitance
The term used to describe the total light which comes off a surface. Exitance is dependent upon the
illuminance on and the reflectance of the surface.

Footcandle
The unit of measure for the density of light as it reaches a surface. One footcandle is equal to one lumen
per square foot. Measured footcandles are sensitive to the distance from the source to the surface of
measure (inverse square law) and the angle at which the light reaches the surface (cosine law).

Illuminance
The density of luminous flux on a surface, is measured in footcandles (one lumen per square foot) or lux
(one lumen per square meter).
Illumination
The result of the use of light.

Light
The energy that allows us to see. Light can be expressed in terms of intensity (candela), flux (lumen),
luminance (candela/square foot), and exitance (lumen/square foot).

Lighting Power Budget

Lighting power budget is the upper limit of power to be available to provide the lighting needs for a
building, including all permanently connected lighting.

Lighting Power Density

Lighting power density is the maximum allowable lighting density permitted by the code. It is expressed
in watts per square foot for a given occupancy/space type.

Lumen
The unit of measure for the light energy which flows in air. The total light output from electric sources is
expressed in lumens. A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or
mean spherical candela equals to 12.57 lumens.

Luminaires
Luminaires are a complete lighting unit consisting of a light or lights together with the parts designed to
distribute the light, to position and protect lights and to connect the lights to their power supply. Many
luminaires include one or more ballasts.

Luminance
This term is used to describe the specific light which comes off the surface whether off a filament, light
bulb, lens, louver, tabletop, etc. Luminance varies with both the direction at which you view the surface
and its gloss characteristics. Luminance is measured in candela per square foot.

Lighting for Homes

Lighting is an important element of a home. A good, energy-efficient lighting system uses less
energy, is more economical and meets people´s visual needs. A lighting system includes lights
(light bulbs), light fixtures (luminaires), and controls (switches, dimmers, timers and motion
detectors).
Some general rules of thumb for lighting your home:
 A good way to achieve energy-efficient lighting is to use ENERGY STAR® labeled lighting
fixtures. "ENERGY STAR" labeled lighting fixtures use less energy than other fixtures, save
you money on utility bills, and help protect the environment.
 Use compact fluorescent light bulbs rather than incandescent lights. The compact
fluorescents will reduce lighting costs by 70 percent and last eight times longer. They will
cost more initially, but those costs will be recovered over time.
  Use windows or skylights in every room to provide general lighting.

 Light-colored walls and ceilings will reflect the light much more effectively than those
painted or stained a dark color.

 Have switches at the room entrances.

 In a lighted closet with a swinging door, a door switch can automatically switch off the
closet light when the door is shut.

Lights and Light Fixtures

Please note: Lighting for commercial

For purposes of this discussion, we are using the term light to facilities
refer to the type of bulb. The lighting industry uses the term
"lamps" and all commercial catalogues and order forms will refer Lighting for homes
to a specific incandescent lamp or fluorescent lamp. In addition,
home improvement stores may refer to lighting fixtures as lights Ballasts
and to light bulbs as bulbs.
Controls
Selecting the right lights and light fixtures is crucial to having an
energy efficient lighting system in your business or home. Lights Exit Lights
and light fixtures come in a variety of types with a wide range of
characteristics. Choosing the appropriate one depends on the Frequently Asked Questions
lighting task. Cost is another factor to consider. Often, the least on commercial facility
expensive to buy is not the least expensive or most energy efficient lighting
to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Incandescent Lights on residential lighting
Incandescent lights render color well, are inexpensive, easily
dimmed, small, and controllable which is useful for product display. Glossary
However, incandescent lights have relatively short life spans and
are susceptible to failure from heat and vibration. They also have Illuminance Business
low efficacy (an industry term that refers to the amount of light Energy Tax Credit
produced per watt of electricity). Also, most incandescent lights
tend to darken with age as tungsten is lost from the filament and Energy Loan Program
deposited on the light walls. Incandescent lights come in a variety
of types and shapes: Lighting Retrofits, PCBs, and
 A Lights - These lights are low cost and commonly used in Mercury
sizes of A-20 to A-1500 watts.
 Reflector ( R ) Lights - These lights are usually more
expensive than A lights and offer better control of the
direction in which light is cast due to a reflective paint of
the light wall. They have a focal point in back of the light,
which results in the light being dispersed broadly by the
 reflective surface. Reflector lights are an appropriate choice
for task lighting (because they directly illuminate a work
area) and for accent lighting. Reflectors lights are available
in R-25, R- 30, R-50, R-75, and R-150 watts. While they have
a lower initial efficiency than regular incandescent lights,
they direct light more effectively, so that more light is
actually delivered than with regular incandescent lights.

 PAR Lights - Parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) lights are

reflector lights with a lens of heavy, durable glass, which
makes them an appropriate choice for outdoor flood and
spot lighting. They are available in PAR-75, PAR-150 and
PAR-250 watts. They have longer lifetimes with less
depreciation than standard incandescent lights.

 Quartz Halogen Lights - These lights have a short life and

low efficacy (the amount of light produced per watt of
electricity). They can be a good choice for areas which need
lighting on an irregular basis. These lights should not be
cleaned.

 Tungsten Halogen Lights - These lights vary from the

standard incandescent by the addition of halogen gases to
the bulb. Halogen gases keep the glass bulb from darkening
by preventing the filament´s evaporation, thereby
increasing lifetime up to four times that of a standard bulb.
The lumen-per-watt rating is approximately the same for
both types of incandescent lights, but tungsten halogen
lights average 94 percent efficiency throughout their
extended lifetime, offering significant energy and operating
cost savings. However, tungsten halogen lights require
special fixtures, and during operation the surface of the
bulb reaches very high temperatures, so they are not
commonly used at home.

Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lights have high efficacy (the amount of light produced
per watt of electricity), long life, and low surface luminance. They
are cool and come in a variety of colors. Fluorescent lights do
require some form of a ballast, an electrical control device that
initiates the light arc with high starting voltage.

Typical fluorescent lights are available in standard high output (HO)

and very high output (VHO) configurations. The HO and VHO lights
are useful for low-temperature environments and areas where a
lot of light is needed with minimal light space.
Fluorescent lights are identified by their T-measure. The T-measure
is the measure of the diameter of the light in eighth of an inch.
Thus, a T12 fluorescent light is twelve-eighths of an inch (or 1-1/2
inches) in diameter, T10 is ten-eighths of an inch (or 1-1/4 inches)
in diameter, and T8 is eight-eighths of an inch (or 1 inch) in
diameter.

T12 Lights - Energy efficient T12 lights use about 15 percent less
energy than standard fluorescent without a noticeable decrease in
light level. For example, a standard 40-watt F40 fluorescent can be
replaced by a 34-watt F40 fluorescent.

T10 Lights - T10 lights typically contain phosphors which produce

high efficacy and color rendition. They will operate on most ballasts
designed for T12 lights.

T8 Lights - T8 lights produce an efficacy of up to 100 lumens per

watt, the highest efficacy of any fluorescent light. They will not
operate on standard ballasts rated for T12 lights. T8 lights use less
of the toxic materials found in larger fluorescent lights, They
require a T8 compatible ballast to operate.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) - These lights are designed to

replace many frequently used incandescent bulbs. They can be
used to reduce energy use and power demand by over 70 percent.
The lights have a lifetime of at least 10,000 hours and the light
produced is similar in appearance to that of an incandescent light.
Frequent cycles of short operation hours may however significantly
reduce light life. Fluorescent lights with incandescent-type screw-in
bases or adapters fit into many incandescent fixtures. Several types
are available.
 The "twin-tube" lights come in 5-, 7-, 9-, 13-, and 26-watt
sizes and plug into reusable screw-in ballast/adapters.
These ballasts have a rated life of 45,000 to 50,000 hours
(about 15 years based on a 5-day, 60-hour work week).
Direct-wire ballast adapters are also available. Some units
come as a complete lamp/ballast unit.
 Compact fluorescent lights come as a complete
lamp/ballast unit with a translucent cover. When the light
burns out, the ballast must also be replaced. However,
these lights will last up to 10 times as long as standard
incandescent lights and are available in 15-, 18-, to 22-watt
 sizes.

 Circline lights are fluorescent tubes formed into a circle and

can be screwed in to replace incandescent lights. Some
models have ballasts built into the light base. Other come
with two circular tubes - one within the other offering a
wider selection of wattages. A 32-watt circline light
provides the same amount of light as a 100-watt
incandescent for one-third the energy cost.

Compact Fluorescent Replacements

Compact Fluorescent
Incandescent
Replacements
40-watt A lamp 9-watt
60-watt A lamp 13 or 15-watt
75-watt A lamp 23-watt
40-watt reflector 16-watt with reflector
100-watt A lamp Two 32-watt

High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights

HID lights are the most efficient lighting sources available today.
They create up to one-third less heat and last up to 24 times longer
than incandescent lights. Most parking lots, shopping centers and
sport arenas now use HID. They can also be considered for indoor
use in many applications. Despite their advantages, these lights do
have some special considerations. Like fluorescents, they need
special ballasts. They have a warm-up time of three to seven
minutes, and a restrike time (the delay between off and back on
again) of five to ten minutes. The three types of HID lamps are
mercury vapor, metal halide, and high-pressure sodium.

Mercury Vapor Lights - These lights are most frequently used

outside for parking and security lighting. The lights have a white or
blue-white light and limited color rendition. These are the least
efficient of the HID lights (slightly less than fluorescents) and
should be replaced with more efficient metal halide or high-
pressure sodium lights where possible.

Metal Halide Lights - Metal halide lights provide the best

rendering of all HID lights. They can be used for merchandise
display, entry lighting, or in any situation where color rendition is
important, and are frequently used for indoor security and sports
lighting.

High-Pressure Sodium Lights - These lights are the most efficient

and economical of the commonly used high intensity discharge
(HID) lights. Because of their warm golden light and limited color
rendering, they are most suitable for outdoor situations. They are
most frequently used as security and outdoor lighting, or in indoor
areas, such as warehouses, where color rendering is unimportant.

Ballasts

Please note:
For purposes of this discussion, we are using the term light to refer to the type of bulb.
The lighting industry uses the term "lamps" and all commercial catalogues and order forms
will refer to a specific incandescent lamp or fluorescent lamp. In addition, home
improvement stores may refer to lighting fixtures as lights and to light bulbs as bulbs.

Control equipment can alter light levels automatically over short intervals to correspond to
the space activities and desired levels of illumination. Controls can potentially save
considerable amount of energy used in your lighting system. There are several control
components that can be used. These components may include:
Timers
A simple automatic timer controls when and how long a light stays on. The timer will turn
lights on and off at prearranged time schedule. It can be located at a light switch, at the
wall receptacle or in a light socket.

Photocell
A photocell is a censored compensator that measures and adjusts the illumination levels
to a preset level in a designated area.

Occupancy sensors
An occupancy sensor detects whether a space is occupied by sensing the motion of an
occupant. These sensors can be ultrasonic, infrared or audio. They are an excellent way to
save energy in rooms where lights are frequently left on. They are also popular outside, for
walkways or security lights.

Dimmers
Dimmers are the switched compensators that allow you to manually adjust the intensity of
light in a room. They can dim the light from 100 to 50 percent. They can be used with
incandescent lights, including low voltage systems. They can also be used with new screw-
based dimmable fluorescent bulbs. Other fluorescent lights must have their own
dimmable ballasts (see below).

Solid state dimming ballasts

Solid state dimming ballasts operate fluorescent lamps and can dim them continuously
with low voltage from 100 to 10 percent

Illuminance

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) established seven

illuminance categories based on descriptions of various visual tasks. These are the
recommended levels of light for various tasks.

Common visual tasks

Visual performance is important. These tasks are found in commercial, industrial and
residential applications. A desktop work space is normally lit to 30 to 50 foot-candles .
Recommended illuminance levels differ because of the characteristics of the visual task being
illuminated. Higher levels are recommended for visual tasks with critical elements of low contrast or
small size.

Category Space Illuminance

D Performance of visual tasks of high 30 footcandle (300 lux)

contrast and large size

E Performance of visual tasks of high 50 footcandle (500 lux)

contrast and small size, or visual tasks
of low contrast and large size

F Performance of visual tasks of low 100 footcandle (1000

contrast and small size lux)

Orientation & simple visual

Visual performance is largely unimportant for this level of task. These tasks are found in
public spaces where reading and visual inspection are only occasionally performed. Parking
lots are normally lit to 5 footcandles. Higher levels are recommended for tasks where visual
performance is occasionally important.

Category Space Illuminance

A Public spaces 3 footcandle (30 lux)
B Simple orientation for short visits 5 footcandle (50 lux)

Working spaces where simple visual tasks

C 10 footcandle (100 lux)
are performed

Special visual tasks

Visual performance is of critical importance. These tasks are very specialized, including those with
very small or very low contrast critical elements. Medical surgical rooms are lit to 1000 footcandle.
Recommended illuminance levels should be achieved with supplementary task lighting. Higher
recommended levels are often achieved by moving the light source closer to the task.

Category Space Illuminance

G Performance of visual tasks near 300 to 1000 footcandles

threshold (3,000 to 10,000 lux)