RESEARCH WORK 6:

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
• TYPES OF LIGHT
• DIFFERENT LIGHTING FIXTURE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
An electrical system, within the context of a building, is a
network of conductors and equipment designed to carry, distribute
and convert electrical power safely from the point of delivery or SWITCH GEAR
generation to the various loads around
the building that consume the electrical energy.The vast majority As well as conductors,
of electrical systems used in buildings in the UK operate at 230V
an electrical system will also
single phase alternating current (AC) or 400V 3 phase, at
comprise equipment that
a frequency of 50Hz. These networks are often referred to as low
provides switching and
voltage (LV) networks. This system is also referred to as mains
protection capabilities, known
electricity.
Larger installations may operate at higher voltages, often with as switchgear. Switchgear ena
11kV supplies or feeders at the origin of the installation. These bles with manual or automated
networks are referred to as high voltage (HV) control of current flow.
networks.Power conversion from 11kV networks down to the 230V-
400V range is usually undertaken via transformers in a substation. Manual control relies on
human intervention to work sm
CONDUCTORS oothly and is typically employed
for isolation switching and
The conductors that form part of the electrical system are the means functional switching.
by which electricity is transferred from one place to another.
Typically, conductors are made from copper, which offers
Automatic switching may be
a good balance
based on protection
between electrical conductivity and cost. Aluminium may also be used
characteristics for devices that
in some instances. Conductors are typically insulated with PVC or
other synthetic insulating materials. detect excess current flow and
act to prevent damage to
Most conductors are used in the form of electrical cables. These can cabling that
be run either separately or within containment systems between may lead to fire and/or electric
two points of an electrical system.
shock. This is usually achieved
through the use of circuit
Other conductors commonly used in electrical
breakers and/or fuses.
systems in buildings are busbars. These are
usually copper or aluminium conductors and run within
Automatic switching may also
an insulating and safety enclosure, typically a trunking. These may be
be handled by control systems,
used where larger conductors are required, as
where electrical signalling from
other systems is used to
control devices known as
the busbar trunking is often physically smaller than cables of
relays or contactors, which in
equivalent current carrying capacity. Such busbar trunking is usually
made up of rigid lengths, and may have several tapping points, turn control
where supplies may be tapped or branched off. higher power circuits.

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LOAD DEVICES

The final components of an electrical system are referred to as load

Small commercial or residential
devices. These convert electrical energy into buildings have a very simple
other forms of energy such as heat, light, or movement. power distribution system. The
utility will own the transformer,
Examples of these include common items such as light which will sit on a pad outside
fittings (luminaires), motors, electric heating units, as well the building or will be attached
as power conversion equipment which converts mains electricity to to a utility pole. The transformer
lower voltages to run appliances and electronic equipment. Often reduces the voltage from
such power conversion is done within the appliance or load itself. 13.8kV down to 120/240 or
120/208 volts and then passes
ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS IN BUILDINGS the electricity to a meter, which
is owned by the utility and
This article covers electrical distribution systems in buildings at a very keeps a record of power
basic level. We will discuss the general principles for how electricity is consumption.
moved from the utility lines to a convenience outlet in a room. The
system components vary depending on the size of the building so we After leaving the meter, the
will address systems for small and large buildings. power is transmitted into the
building at which point all
ELECTRICITY FROM THE POWER COMPANY wiring, panels, and devices are
the property of the building
Electric utilities transmit power from the power plant most efficiently at owner. Wires transfer the
very high voltages. In the United States, power companies provide electricity from the meter to a
electricity to medium or large buildings at 13,800 volts (13.8kV). For panel board, which is generally
small commercial buildings or residential customers, power companies located in the basement or
lower the voltage with a transformer on a power pole or mounted on garage of a house. In small
the ground. From there, the electricity is fed through a meter and into commercial buildings, the
the building. panel may be located in a utility
closet. The panel board will
POWER DISTRIBUTION IN SMALL BUILDINGS have a main service breaker
and a series of circuit breakers,
which control the flow of power
to various circuits in the
building. Each branch circuit
will serve a device (some
appliances require heavy
loads) or a number of devices
like convenience outlets or
lights.

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POWER DISTRIBUTION IN LARGE BUILDINGS
Large buildings have a much higher electrical load than small buildings; The electricity will leave the
therefore, the electrical equipment must be larger and more robust. switchgear and travel along a
Large building owners will also purchase electricity at high voltages (in primary feeder or bus. The bus
the US, 13.8kV) because it comes at a cheaper rate. In this case, the or feeder is a heavy gauge
owner will provide and maintain their own step-down transformer, conductor that is capable of
which lowers the voltage to a more usable level (in the US, 480/277 carrying high amperage
volts). This transformer can be mounted on a pad outside the building current throughout a building
or in a transformer room inside the building. safely and efficiently. The bus
or feeder is tapped as needed
The electricity is then transmitted to switchgear. The role of the and a conductor is run to an
switchgear is to distribute electricity safely and efficiently to the various electric closet, which serves a
electrical closets throughout the building. The equipment has zone or floor of a building.
numerous safety features including circuit breakers, which allow power
to be disrupted downstream - this may occur due to a fault or problem, Each electrical closet will have
but it can also be done intentionally to allow technicians to work on another step-down transformer
specific branches of the power system. - in the US, this will drop the
power from 480/277 volts to
It should be noted that very large buildings or buildings with complex 120 volts for convenience
electrical systems may have multiple transformers, which may feed outlets. That transformer will
multiple pieces of switchgear. We are keeping this article simple by feed a branch panel, which
sharing the basic concepts. controls a series of branch
circuits that cover a portion of
the building. Each branch
circuit covers a subset of the
electrical needs of the area - for
instance: lighting, convenience
outlets to a series of rooms, or
electricity to a piece of
equipment.

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 TYPES OF LIGHT

Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes
the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by
capturing daylight. Daylighting (using windows, skylights, or light shelves) is sometimes used as the main
source of light during daytime in buildings. This can save energy in place of using artificial lighting, which
represents a major component of energy consumption in buildings. Proper lighting can enhance task
performance, improve the appearance of an area, or have positive psychological effects on occupants.
Indoor lighting is usually accomplished using light fixtures, and is a key part of interior design. Lighting can also
be an intrinsic component of landscape projects.
You can use the Type property to choose how the Light behaves. The available values are:

 Point light, a Light that is located at a point in the Scene and emits light in all directions equally
 Spot light, a Light that is located at a point in the Scene and emits light in a cone shape
 Directional, a Light that is located infinitely far away and emits light in one direction only
 Area light, a Light that is defined by a rectangle in the Scene, and emits light all directions uniformly across its
surface area but only from one side of the rectangle

POINT LIGHTS
A point light is located at a point in space and sends light out in
all directions equally. The direction of light hitting a surface is the line
from the point of contact back to the center of the light object. The
intensity diminishes with distance from the light, reaching zero at a
specified range. Light intensity is inversely proportional to the square of
the distance from the source. This is known as ‘inverse square law’ and
is similar to how light behaves in the real world. Point lights are useful for
simulating lamps and other local sources of lightina sceneYou can also
use them to make a spark or explosion illuminate its surroundings in a
convincing way.

SPOT LIGHTS
Like a point light, a spot light has a specified location and range
over which the light falls off. However, the spot light is constrained to an
angle, resulting in a cone-shaped region of illumination. The center of the
cone points in the forward (Z) direction of the light object. Light also
diminishes at the edges of the spot light’s cone. Widening the angle
increases the width of the cone and with it increases the size of this fade,
known as the ‘penumbra’. Spot lights are generally used for artificial light
sources such as flashlights, car headlights and searchlights. With the
direction controlled from a script or animation, a moving spot light will
illuminate just a small area of the scene and create dramatic lighting
effects.

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DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS
Directional lights are very useful for creating effects such as sunlight
in your scenes. Behaving in many ways like the sun, directional lights can be
thought of as distant light sources which exist infinitely far away. A directional
light does not have any identifiable source position and so the light object
can be placed anywhere in the scene. All objects in the scene are illuminated
as if the light is always from the same direction. The distance of the light from
the target object is not defined and so the light does not diminish.

AREA LIGHTS
An Area Light is defined by a rectangle in space. Light is emitted in all
directions uniformly across their surface area, but only from one side
of the rectangle. There is no manual control for the range of an Area
Light, however intensity will diminish at inverse square of the distance
as it travels away from the source. Since the lighting calculation is
quite processor-intensive, area lights are not available at runtime and
can only be baked into lightmaps.

TYPES OF LIGHTING

Lighting is classified by intended use as general, accent, or task lighting, depending largely on the distribution
of the light produced by the fixture.

 Task lighting is mainly functional and is usually the most

concentrated, for purposes such as reading or inspection of
materials. For example, reading poor-quality reproductions may
require task lighting levels up to 1500 lux (150 footcandles),
and some inspection tasks or surgical procedures require even
higher levels.
 Accent lighting is mainly decorative, intended to
highlight pictures, plants, or other elements of interior
design or landscaping.

 General lighting (sometimes referred to as ambient light) fills in

between the two and is intended for general illumination of an
area. Indoors, this would be a basic lamp on a table or floor, or
a fixture on the ceiling. Outdoors, general lighting for a parking
lot may be as low as 10-20 lux (1-2 footcandles)
since pedestrians and motorists already used to the dark will
need little light for crossing the area.

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METHODS OF LIGHTING

 Downlighting is most common, with fixtures on or recessed in the ceiling casting light downward. This
tends to be the most used method, used in both offices and homes. Although it is easy to design, it has
dramatic problems with glare and excess energy consumption due to large number of fittings. The
introduction of LED lighting has greatly improved this by approx. 90% when compared to a halogen
downlight or spotlight. LED lamps or bulbs are now available to retro fit in place of high energy consumption
lamps.
 Uplighting is less common, often used to bounce indirect light off the ceiling and back down. It is
commonly used in lighting applications that require minimal glare and uniform general illuminance levels.
Uplighting (indirect) uses a diffuse surface to reflect light in a space and can minimize disabling glare on
computer displays and other dark glossy surfaces. It gives a more uniform presentation of the light output
in operation. However indirect lighting is completely reliant upon the reflectance value of the surface. While
indirect lighting can create a diffused and shadow free light effect it can be regarded as an uneconomical
lighting principle.
 Front lighting is also quite common, but tends to make the subject look flat as its casts almost no visible
shadows. Lighting from the side is the less common, as it tends to produce glare near eye level.
 Backlighting either around or through an object is mainly for accent. Backlighting is used to illuminate a
background or backdrop. This adds depth to an image or scene. Others use it to achieve a more dramatic
effect.

FORMS OF LIGHTING

Forms of lighting include alcove lighting, which like most other uplighting is indirect. This is
often done with fluorescent lighting (first available at the 1939 World's Fair) or rope light, occasionally
with neon lighting, and recently with LED strip lighting. It is a form of backlighting.
Soffit or close to wall lighting can be general or a decorative wall-wash, sometimes used to
bring out texture (like stucco or plaster) on a wall, though this may also show its defects as well. The
effect depends heavily on the exact type of lighting source used.
Recessed lighting (often called "pot lights" in Canada, "can lights" or 'high hats" in the US) is
popular, with fixtures mounted into the ceiling structure so as to appear flush with it. These downlights
can use narrow beam spotlights, or wider-angle floodlights, both of which are bulbs having their
own reflectors. There are also downlights with internal reflectors designed to accept common 'A' lamps
(light bulbs) which are generally less costly than reflector lamps. Downlights can be incandescent,
fluorescent, HID (high intensity discharge) or LED.
Track lighting, invented by Lightolier,was popular at one period of time because it was much
easier to install than recessed lighting, and individual fixtures are decorative and can be easily aimed
at a wall. It has regained some popularity recently in low-voltage tracks, which often look nothing like
their predecessors because they do not have the safety issues that line-voltage systems have, and are
therefore less bulky and more ornamental in themselves. A master transformer feeds all of the fixtures
on the track or rod with 12 or 24 volts, instead of each light fixture having its own line-to-low voltage
transformer. There are traditional spots and floods, as well as other small hanging fixtures. A modified
version of this is cable lighting, where lights are hung from or clipped to
bare metal cables under tension.

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 A sconce is a wall-mounted fixture, particularly one that shines up and sometimes down as
well.
A torchère is an uplight intended for ambient lighting. It is typically a floor lamp but may be wall-
mounted like a sconce. Further interior light fixtures include chandeliers, pendant lights, ceiling fans
with lights, close-to-ceiling or flush lights, and various types of lamps.
The portable or table lamp is probably the most common fixture, found in many homes
and offices. The standard lamp and shade that sits on a table is general lighting, while the desk lamp
is considered task lighting. Magnifier lamps are also task lighting.
The illuminated ceiling was once popular in the 1960s and 1970s but fell out of favor after the
1980s. This uses diffuser panels hung like a suspended ceiling below fluorescent lights, and is
considered general lighting. Other forms include neon, which is not usually intended to illuminate
anything else, but to actually be an artwork in itself. This would probably fall under accent lighting,
though in a dark nightclub it could be considered general lighting.
In a movie theater, steps in the aisles are usually marked with a row of small lights for
convenience and safety, when the film has started and the other lights are off. Traditionally made up
of small low wattage, low-voltage lamps in a track or translucent tube, these are rapidly being replaced
with LED based version.
DIFFERENT LIGHTING FIXTURE

When it comes down to choosing the right light fixture, the choices can seem a little intimidating. However,
there are a few factors you can look at to decide what type of light fixture is best for you.

First, you’ll want to determine what type of lighting – ambient, accent, or task lighting – that you are
looking for. Different light fixtures offer different levels of illumination. We’ll take a closer look at specific
lighting fixtures in a minute.

You’ll also want to consider design. A big draw of all the choices you have in light fixtures is that you are
able to find one that matches your home decor perfectly. The best way to go about this is to decide the
type of light fixture you want (i.e. a chandelier or pendant light) and then take a look into the different
styles of that type of light are available.

When it comes to choosing a light fixture, your choices can seem overwhelmingly endless. You can narrow
down this choice and choose the perfect light for you by understanding what each light fixture is and what
type of lighting it provides.

RECESSED LIGHTS

Recessed lights, as the name suggests, are installed so

that they are “hidden” within the ceiling they are used in. To put
this another way, the wiring and mechanisms of the light are
tucked away within the ceiling so that the light itself is recessed
into or flush with the ceiling itself.

This can make these light fixtures a little more difficult to

install than some other choices. They require around 4 to 8
inches of space above the ceiling to house their mechanics.

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 These lighting fixtures are versatile as they can be used for ambient, accent, or task lighting depending
on where they’re installed. When installed directly into the ceiling, they often make for a great ambient choice.
They can also be installed directly over desks or decor pieces to create task or accent lighting as well.

PENDANT LIGHTS

Pendant lights are lights that hang from the

ceiling usually by a simple cord, cable, or pipe. They
typically draw their design style from their shade which
usually provides a statement for your decor as they tend
to draw the eye towards them.

These lights can provide ambient or task lighting

depending on what type you use. Using inverted
pendant lights can make them interesting ambient lights.
On the other hand, using pendant lights that hang lower over a table can provide you with task lighting.

DRUM PENDANT LIGHTS

A drum pendant light has a ring shaped

design that surrounds the bulb. This typically acts
as a diffuser to tone down the glare and intensity
of the light.

BATHROOM PENDANT LIGHTS

A tub with bathroom pendant lights are

used to achieve a contemporary or modern design
and are not often used for a traditional style home.

INVERTED PENDANT LIGHTS

With a traditional pendant light, the shade of the

light hangs down over the bulb. An inverted pendant light,
alternatively, uses a shade that comes up over the
light.Standard pendant lights are better suited to task lighting
while inverted pendant lights are the choice for ambient
lighting with a pendant fixture.

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FLUSHED LIGHTS
Flush lights are a type of ceiling mounted light. They derive
their name from their position with little or no gap between the light
and the ceiling. In other words, they are lights that place “flush”
against the ceiling.

The variant of these lights that offers a gap are also known
as semi-flush lights. Even with semi-flush lights, the gap between
the ceiling and the light fixture is rather small – usually a few inches
at most.

These light fixtures offer ambient light rather than a focused task or accent lighting. They are often
used in areas such as hallways and kitchens. The lights may use one or multiple bulbs and the more bulbs the
light uses, the brighter the light it will give off.

CHANDELIERS

Chandeliers have rightfully made a name for

themselves as a gorgeous and highly decorated choice as a
light fixture. Even the most basic chandeliers offer a fancier
feel than a ceiling fan or recessed light. These lights are
designed to be a focal point themselves and draw attention
to them.

Since chandeliers steal the show themselves and

don’t offer focused light, they aren’t a great choice for accent
lighting. They also don’t provide a focused enough light to provide task lighting. Chandeliers are reserved for
ambient lighting.

A very common choice for chandeliers is to use them over a dining

room table. You’ll want to be sure to find a chandelier that fits your
decor. The chandelier, as already noted, should be the focal point so
the decor of the room should complement it. The best dining room
lighting fixtures include chandeliers, semi & flush mount lights,
pendants and sconces.

This kitchen has a globe chandelier above its island that provides a
contemporary design style.

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 A living room chandelier can act as a central focal point in
which you can frame the furniture around within the space.

A linear chandelier is another way to bring a contemporary

feel to a space. These can be used effectively in bedrooms
and above kitchen islands with great results.

CEILING MOUNTED FIXTURES

There are a variety of ceiling mounted fixtures; many of

which we have and will continue to look at here. For instance,
pendant lights and chandeliers are both ceiling hung fixtures.Since
we’ve covered these, we are going to take this section to look at
one of the most popular choices of ceiling mounted fixtures: ceiling
fans.Ceiling fans use a central light or lights shaded in some fashion
to provide ambient light to the room. In addition, this light is
surrounded by fan blades that can be turned on at varying speeds
to cool the room down.This dual usage makes ceiling fans a good
choice for homeowners looking for light and comfort. We’ll take a closer look into the details of choosing and
buying a ceiling fan in a bit.

DOWNLIGHTS AND SPOTLIGHTS

When talking about pendant lights, we discussed uplights and

downlights. These terms have to do with how the light is
directed.With a downlight, the shade of the light comes down
around the bulb to direct the light below the bulb. With an uplight,
the shade starts below the bulb and comes up around it to direct
the light upward.Spotlights use these directive styles to offer
concentrated light straight onto an object or area. This often has
the effect of a bright focal area with deep shadows around the area the spotlight is focused on.As this definition
suggests, spotlights are best used for the most common form of obvious accent lighting. They are more often
than not pointed directly at a point of focus to draw attention to it.

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UNDER CABINET LIGHTS

Under cabinet lights are lights that are installed

to the bottom of kitchen cabinets. These are usually in
the form of a linear fixture or hockey puck-shaped light.
As to not take up cabinet space and offer ease, these
lights are sometimes attached with adhesive rather
than traditionally installed.These lights are used pretty
much exclusively for task lighting. This is because they
offer direct, concentrated light to the counter space
below the cabinet allowing you to have the light you
need for jobs such as preparing food.

KITCHEN ISLAND LIGHTING

On the topic of needing light for cooking and

preparing food, having ample light over a kitchen island
is important. Under counter lighting isn’t always an
option when it comes to kitchen islands because they
usually don’t feature cabinet space.Kitchen islands
also don’t benefit the most from ambient lighting such
as high ceiling lights. Rather, kitchen islands need task
lighting for work.A great option for kitchen island
lighting is pendant light fixtures positioned directly
above the island. Depending on the size of the island, a single or multiple pendant light fixtures may be
used.While pendant lighting is the most popular, any ceiling mounted task lighting fixtures such as track lights
will do the trick.

TRACK LIGHTS

Track lights get their name from their installation

on a linear track. These lights can usually be slid along
the track to allow for lighting to be aimed in different
directions. The tracks also typically feature several
heads on a single track.Because these heads can
usually be moved along the track and pointed in
different directions, these are often used as task and
accent lighting. They also offer a lot of concentrated
light which also lends these lights to accent and task
lighting.To be used as accent lighting, these lights can
be installed around the piece you want to draw attention to. By installing them over a work area, though, you
can use a set of track lights as task lighting.

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WALL SCONCES, COVE LIGHTING,
AND WALL MOUNTED LIGHTS

There are a few types of lighting fixtures that

work as wall mounted lights. Two of the most common
choices are wall sconces and cove lighting.Wall
sconces are considered rather decorative among
lighting fixtures. This is because rather than being
installed high up, they are typically installed at eye-
level.As such, they are typically dim as to not hurt the
eyes that they are level with. So, while they can be
used as ambient lights, they aren’t often used on their own as such. Wall sconces can be either uplights or
downlights and as downlights, they are often used for task lighting.Cove lighting is typically mounted higher
than wall sconces on the upper wall or even the ceiling. These uplights are considered a rather elegant choice
for ambient lighting. These lights are installed as a strip of lights along a cove that a room naturally has.

LED LIGHTING

LED lighting is often used because it is more

environmentally friendly than traditional incandescent
lighting. There are a few different ways it can be used
other than simply in the form of LED light bulbs.LED
lighting is often what is used in cove lighting. These
LED lights, whether they be standard or hued, shine
light up onto the ceiling which reflects the light back
into the room. It’s not uncommon for these lights to
be uniquely colored for a custom appearance.While
this type of lighting is ambient lighting, LED lights can be implemented in almost any light fixture, making this
type of light rather versatile when looking for ambient, accent, or task lighting.

WALL GRAZERS AND WALL

WASHERS

We’ve already looked at some fixtures that

operate by directing light towards the ceiling for it to
reflect off of it to offer ambient light to the rest of the
room. Wall washers or wall grazers use the same
approach but rather than reflecting off of a ceiling,
they “wash” the wall in ambient light.These lights can
be recessed or fixtures that protrude slightly
outwards. Oftentimes, they are either mounted to the wall itself or near the edge of a ceiling to direct light to
the wall below.

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SWING ARM LAMP

Swing arm lamps are typically used as a type of desk

lamp or wall mounted light. No matter where or how these
fixtures are installed, they have in common the fact that the
light is attached to a hinged arm.This allows users to pull the
light out or over where they need it to go. Some swing arms
offer multiple hinges on its arm to offer more flexibility.Since
these are easily directed lights and offer plenty of direct light,
they are almost always used as task lights. They are
particularly convenient options because they can be turned
on and positioned where they need to go when needed and when they aren’t, they can be both turned off and
easily pushed out of the way.

DESK AND TABLE LAMPS

Desk and table lamps are most often used as task

lighting. This is because their light is limited and easily
directed. Unlike accent lights, though, they aren’t so powerful
as to cast deep shadows around them.These are popular as
task lights because they can be easily positioned. Unlike a
variety of other light fixtures, these need only to be plugged in
rather than installed, making them easy to set up on a desk
or side table. They also illuminate directly, giving users the
light they need to read, write, and work.These lights cast a
downward, general glow. Because of this, they aren’t
generally used as ambient lights.These are also very visible as opposed to fixtures such as recessed lights. As
such, they are often chosen based on their design as well as their purpose.

FLOOR LAMPS

Floor lamps are tall lamps that are reminiscent of their

table lamp cousins but don’t need the dedicated space of a
table to offer extra light. They are easy to tuck into a corner
or behind a piece of furniture to add a little extra light to a
room.Floor lamps also have large, heavy bases, so you don’t
have to worry about these lamps being easily knocked over.
This makes these a still viable choice for families with pets and
children.These type of lamp fixtures add a good deal of light
to the home. Since it isn’t focused or directed, it usually isn’t
used as task lighting or accent lighting but as ambient light.
For large rooms, it might be used with additional floor lamps
or other types of ambient lighting to ensure the whole.

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UTILITY LIGHTING

Utility lighting is a form of task lighting that

exists to do a job. For instance, the hood light
above your stove is an example of utility lighting.
Some lighting fixtures we’ve looked at such as
under cabinet lighting or swing arm fixtures can
be considered utility lighting. Outside of the
home, utility lighting examples would include path
or street lights. These lights don’t prioritize
appearance but rather the job they do. Because
of this, utility lighting can be very simple or even
utilize a single recessed bulb. They often include adjustable features such as being able to tilt, readjust, or
otherwise direct the light onto the job at hand. Naturally, you can find utility lighting that is beautifully designed
but that design utilizes purpose. You won’t find utility lighting that is decorative without features such as mobility
and direction like you might find with ambient lighting.

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

Earlier, it was pointed out that accent and ambient lighting especially are sometimes used in outdoor
settings. Ambient light might be used to light walkways or doorways while accent lighting can be used to draw
attention to architectural or landscaping pieces.First, let’s look at ambient light. When it comes to lighting a
deck or porch, the light fixture is typically positioned high up either on the ceiling when one is present or
installed near the top of the door. When lighting walkways, lower lights are typically used to cast light near the
ground.Accent lighting might come from the use of spotlights or even the same type of lights you are used to
seeing near a walkway.Lower lights can be used to draw the eye to, for example, a pond in the yard. Wall
mounted lights similar to porch lights can be used around the house to draw attention to specific architectural
features.It’s rather common for landscape lighting to be solar powered. They gather light from the sun during
the day to offer an energy efficient glow at night when they’re needed.

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TYPES OF MATERIALS USED FOR INTERIOR LIGHTING

There are a variety of materials that can be used to create a light fixture. The three most often used
are glass, fabric, and metal. Once again, before you decide what’s best for your home, it’s a good idea to
familiarize yourself with all your choices.

GLASS LIGHTING

Glass lighting fixtures are a popular choice for

manufacturers because they offer both beauty and good light diffusion. As
a material, glass a very versatile when it comes to design.

Anything from different colors to different shapes can make a glass light
fixture one of a kind. Pendant, recessed, flush, and semi-flush light fixtures
are often glass.

FABRIC FIXTURES

Fabric fixtures use a fabric shade to control the intensity of

a light’s glow. Almost any light can be done as a fabric fixture. Pendant,
flush, semi-flush light fixtures, as well as table and floor lamps, utilize fabric
frequently.Because they tone down a light’s intensity to a calmer level,
fabric fixtures are popular in bedrooms. This intensity can be changed
depending on the what fabric is used and the color of that fabric.

METAL

Metal light fixtures are often used in modern design and are
even used in vintage-inspired fixtures.These fixtures offer unique shapes
usually in geometric forms when used as more decorative lighting
statements. You can see them used in track lighting as well.They can be in
the form of a pendant, drum, linear light.

LIGHTING ACCESSORIES

Along with your lighting fixtures, there are a number of accessories you can use to determine the type
of light, the intensity of the light, and even accessories to offer dual usage such as the aforementioned ceiling
fans.

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 DIMMERS

Lighting is something that, as we’ve covered,

that can set the atmosphere of a room. However, rather
often, homeowners don’t want the same mood for a room
every time they occupy it. Sometimes they might want a
bright room while other times they may want a room more
calmly lit to relax in.This is where dimmers come in. Dimmers
can be installed to allow you to control the intensity of the
light or lights in a room.

CEILING FANS

Lighting is something that, as we’ve covered, that can set the atmosphere of a room. However,
rather often, homeowners don’t want the same mood for a room every time they occupy it. Sometimes they
might want a bright room while other times they may want a room more calmly lit to relax in.This is where
dimmers come in. Dimmers can be installed to allow you to control the intensity of the light or lights in a
room.The cost of dimmers can vary. They can cost within a range of around $13 to $40 per unit depending
on factors such as the quality and manufacturer you choose. Installations cost within a range of approximately
$58 to $135. This depends on the difficulty of the installation and the cleaning and touch-ups needed once
the installation is done.We touched on ceiling fans earlier when we discussed ceiling mounted light fixtures.
Here, we will take a look at some aspects of choosing the right ceiling fan.

As for size, the width of your ceiling fan will depend on the length of the longest wall in your room. If the longest
wall is less than 12 feet, you’ll want a ceiling fan of 36 inches or less. For 12 to 15 feet, 40 to 48 inches and
for 15 feet or more, 52 inches or more.For downrod length, this will depend on your ceiling height. The following
measurements will show the appropriate ceiling height to downrod length measurements.

● 10 feet; 12 inches

● 11 feet; 18 inches

● 12 feet; 24 inches

● 13 feet; 36 inches

● 14 feet; 48 inches

● 15 feet; 60 inches

● 16 feet; 72 inches

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TYPES OF LIGHT BULBS

There are a variety of types of light bulbs you can choose from. While many types of lighting fixtures
call for light bulbs of different shapes and wattage, we are going to look at some of the most basic options
here. As far as wattage goes, it’s imperative that you use the light bulb wattage that your fixture calls for.

Incandescent light bulbs are thought of as the most “traditional” option. These are the least expensive option
and offer a warm light that is made to compliment skin tones. They aren’t the most energy efficient option but
they will last around 700 to 1,000 hours.

Halogen light bulbs are a type of incandescent light bulb and offer “white light” which is much like daylight.
They are slightly more energy efficient, a little more expensive, and burn hotter. Don’t handle these with your
bare hands because the residue from your hands will cause the bulb to heat up too fast and burst. These are
commonly used with under cabinet, pendant, and recessed light fixture.

LED lights are fairly expensive but they are very energy efficient and they’ll last a long time. They’re rather
bright but can be dimmed with shades if desired. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are also energy efficient
while being slightly more affordable. These bulbs can be recognized by their unique spiral shape. Standard
fluorescent bulbs -the long, cylindrical bulbs – are also sometimes used to light large areas.

REFERENCES:

https://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/electrical/electrical-power-systems.html

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Types_of_lighting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighting

https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/Lighting.html

https://designingidea.com/types-of-lighting-fixtures/

https://www.ranker.com/list/types-of-light-fixtures/nychick

https://designingidea.com/types-of-ceiling-lights/

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