Value to Builder
Savings
Energy efficient homes = happy homeowners. Over time, even the slightest modifications in total energy consumption from lighting can add up to significant savings for your customers. And when your customers save, your business earns.
Variety
Modern lighting design can be a powerful and versatile tool for builders—one in which technology and style combine in a vast array of choices.
Energy efficient lighting presents builders, designers, and home remodelers with a greater variety of attractive styles than ever before. This variety is an important advantage in meeting the demands of today's discerning consumer.
Versatility
The diverse lighting needs of today's home means design must be stronger and more versatile than in the past. Energy efficient lighting can be used for general, task, and ambient design needs. Lighting tools such as dimmers and 3-way switches can be used, and numerous light color outputs are available to set the right tone and mood for any space. |
New Lighting Technologies
Thanks to continuing technological advances the palette of modern lighting choices is broad. In fact, today there's an energy-efficient solution for almost every lighting fixture type, to suit any design need.
Downlights
Recessed downlights are the modern workhorse of residential lighting fixtures. They're simple, classically styled, and provide good task light when oriented over the work surface. While some downlights use ordinary incandescent lamps, most are designed to use reflector lamps such as P (Parabolic), R (Reflector) and MR bulbs.
The downlight consists of two parts:
- The housing that is located above the ceiling. The housing includes the lamp socket, wiring, and enclosure.
- The trim covers the housing in the ceiling and finishes off the installation. The trim helps shield the lamp, controlling glare, and sometimes allows the direction of the beam to be pointed at objects of display.
Housings are generally available in five different types:
- Standard Thermally Protected (type "T")
- Insulated Ceiling ("IC")
- Airtight Insulated Ceiling ("AIC" or "ICAT")
- Remodeler ("RT")
- Insulated Ceiling Remodeler ("ICR")
Remodeler housings are designed to be installed through a hole in the existing ceiling, but all other types must be installed from above the ceiling or before a ceiling is installed in the home. The rating of each housing appears prominently on the listing label of the housing. The Electrical Code requires that an IC rated housing (any of them will do) is required if insulation is present. Energy codes generally require airtight IC housings to minimize airflow between conditioned living space and non-conditioned attic or plenum.
There are many trims to choose from. Trims are specifically designed for a number of purposes, including:
- Basic downlighting
- Adjustable downlighting and accent lighting
- Tub and shower lighting
- Wallwashing
Most housings permit the trim to be chosen later, so the housing is installed during rough construction, and the trim installed after finish painting. Some trims are specifically rated for wet locations, but most trims can be used in damp locations such as outdoors under an eave.
Downlights designed for residential use are available in several different sizes:
| Aperture |
Lamp Types |
Max. Watts* |
Trims |
| 4" |
Compact fluorescent
Low voltage MR16
Halogen PAR20
Incandescent A19 and R20 |
13
50
50
50 |
Many variations for most lamp types—partial choices for compact fluorescent |
| 5" |
Compact fluorescent
Incandescent A19 and R30 |
18
75 |
Many variations for most lamp types—partial choices for compact fluorescent |
| 6" |
Compact fluorescent
Incandescent A19, A21 and R40 |
32
100 |
Many variations for most lamp types—partial choices for compact fluorescent |
| *Note that the maximum wattage varies by manufacturer and application. In general, the maximum wattage for "IC", "ICAT", and "ICR" housings is lower than that for standard housings. |
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Decorative Lighting
Lighting has been called the "jewelry of architecture," and in many building types lighting fixtures play an important role in defining building style, period or motif.
Chandeliers are ornate luminaires generally consisting of many small incandescent lamps which act to simulate the effect of a traditional candle flame. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and are used for general illumination in dining rooms, foyers and other formal spaces.
Pendants are also ceiling-hung decorative fixtures. In general, the term pendant is used for informal luminaires found in offices, restaurants, and many other places. Many modern variations are available with compact fluorescent sources.
Close-to-Ceiling luminaires are similar to pendants but mount closely to the ceiling to allow use in most rooms with conventional ceiling heights.
Sconces are ornate or decorative wall mounted luminaires. Often sconces will match an adjacent chandelier, but in other cases they are the sole decorative lighting element. Sconces exhibit the widest diversity of style, ranging from crystal sconces with flame tip lamps to modern designs.
Lamps are traditional portable luminaires intended for table or floor mounting. Torchieres are a type of floor lamp designed specifically for uplighting. Compact fluorescent options should be considered for commercial and hospitality applications.
Lanterns describe a broad category of outdoor luminaires, which can be mounted to ceilings, walls, posts or poles.
Most decorative luminaires can only be used in dry, indoor spaces. A few types, notably lanterns and some sconces, are "wet labeled" meaning they can be used where exposed to direct rain.
Common Types of Light Fixtures for Homes
Task Lights
Since the invention of the classic architect lamp decades ago, a flexible "task" light is a useful tool that is also attractive. Modern options include low voltage halogen and compact fluorescent versions.
Undercabinet Lights
The undercabinet light is another task-oriented light. Undercabinet lights should be mounted under the front edge of the shelf or cabinet, and should be as continuous as possible. Undercabinet lights using fluorescent lamps are the most energy efficient and least costly. Halogen and xenon incandescent lamps are available.
Vanity Lights
The vanity light is a task light for bath vanity and mirror areas. It can mount horizontally above the mirror or vertically to the sides. Vanity lights can be highly ornamental, but there are also many versions that are utilitarian and designed for high abuse. Fluorescent vanity lights should always be considered as an alternative to incandescent and halogen vanity lights.
Track Lights
This is a display light system suitable for illuminating art and display objects. There are many styles and the appearance of the fixture can play an important role. Similar to can lights, there are many variations that employ reflectorized, conical compact fluorescent lamps.
Ceiling Drums
Highly suited to compact fluorescent lighting, ceiling drums are round or square luminaires that generally mount directly to the ceiling surface. They are typically used as corridor lights, rest room lights, closet lights, as well as for a host of other applications where only a modest amount of light is needed. Drum fixtures tend to be inexpensive.
Wraparound Surface Fluorescent
Wraparound Surface Fluorescent lighting is a low cost system that can be used in a variety of applications and ceiling systems. In general, systems should be specified with (2) T-8 lamps, electronic ballast and a prismatic acrylic lens. A wraparound luminaire is diffuse light for low ceiling applications, and should not be used above 10 feet. These fixtures are best in situations where they're mounted between 8-10 feet.
Fluorescent Strip
A very low cost lighting system that can be used in a variety of applications, ceiling systems and various architectural details like valances is the fluorescent strip. The system should be specified with T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. The strip should be specified in single lamp, two lamp, two lamp end-to-end ("tandem") and four-lamp tandem luminaires using 4' or 8' lamps.
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