Energy Efficiency and Rebates

Lighting

Why Lighting is Important:

Lighting usually offers an easy and rewarding way to save energy dollars. Savings of 20% to 50% are commonplace.

* The bulk of lighting costs is the cost of electricity.
* The energy used for lighting typically represents 35-75% of your electric bill.
* Reducing the amount of electricity you use for lighting may also reduce your peak demand. If you are billed for both energy use and demand, you may achieve additional savings.
* Since lights generate heat, improved lighting efficiency can lower your air conditioning costs too.
* There's usually a lot of room for improvement. Although most new facilities have been designed with energy conservation in mind, and many existing facilities have already taken steps to trim lighting costs, many older facilities can save money through more efficient lighting.

Lighting Considerations:
When considering energy-efficient lighting alternatives you typically need to weigh your alternatives relative to several considerations:

* The type of lighting
* Quantity and quality of light
* Energy consumption
* Costs and length of life

Purpose and Use of the Lighting:
* Ambient lighting-general illumination indoors for daily activities, and outdoors for safety and security
* Task lighting-the lighting used by workers as they perform a task-facilitates particular tasks that require more light than is needed for general illumination, such as under-counter kitchen lights, table lamps, or bathroom mirror lights.
* Background lighting-the general lighting throughout the space
* Accent lighting-draws attention to special features or enhances the aesthetic qualities of an indoor or outdoor environment.

Quantity and Quality of Light:
Both the amount of light and the quality of that light play an important role in choosing the right lighting alternative.

Quantity of Light:
There are two measures of light that are of top interest to most people when they are considering their lighting alternatives: Lumens and Footcandles

Lumen-A lumen is an amount of light generated by a light source. Lamps are rated according to the number of lumens they produce.

Footcandle-A footcandle is the amount of light that reaches a particular surface. You measure footcandle with a light meter.