Energy Saving in Home Lighting

INTRODUCTION

There's much more to lighting rooms than

placing a 60 watt bulb in the middle of the ceiling. There have been such

leaps in lighting technology, that an array of fittings and light bulbs

needed to produce dramatic effects are available and affordable. There's

even lighting that will save you energy and money. So, where do you

start ? Begin by thinking about the three functions of light. First, it gives

general lighting to a room. Secondly, there is localized or task lighting,

that supplies specific, concentrated light for activities such as reading,

sewing and cooking. Thirdly, there is accent or mood lighting that creates

atmosphere by providing pools of light to highlight certain objects or

areas. Major developments are causing a revolution in lighting

technology. Miniaturization and the introduction of electronic lamp

circuitry are changing, improving and extending performance parameter

of well known lamps.

Electronics in lighting

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Electronic lighting, including the incorporation of

electronic control makes exciting new lighting concepts possible. These

new concepts meet requirements for more flexible, sophisticated and

dynamic environments in major application field such as, office lighting,

industrial lighting, shop lighting, hotel and home lighting.

Energy conservation

The world is becoming increasingly aware that in

the not too distant future, energy will become a scarce and an expensive

commodity. And. this Upturn might affect the economic development in

the next decade. Therefore, it will be prudent for all of us to make

optimum use of Energy conservatior advanced light, limited supplies of

resources and seek ways to improve the efficiency of energy using

processes.

In India lighting consumes about 17 pre cent of

the total electrical energy (against seven percent to eight percent in

advanced European countries with better quality lighting). Out of this

about 37 percentis used for commercial and industrial lighting alone.

These days additional generation would be at the estimated cost of Rs

4.5 crore for each megawatt.

New materials and the introduction of electronics

are improving existing lighting technologies and opening up entirely new

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possibilities. With well over 2000 different lamps having individual

characteristics and lighting hardware in the service of reflectors or other

forms of control, luminous environments having: desired illuminance;

desired colour temperature, desired colour rendering, desired flexibility,

desired appearance of the light sources can be created. First of all we

see a strong trend to miniaturize the light sources in virtually every

member of the light source family.

New Light Sources

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The high luminance of the filament of halogen

incandescent lamps make these lamps very suitable for lighting

techniques application in optical systems. Luminance and lifetime

depend on the temperature of the filament. Halogen is added to prevent

wall blackening. Spectral power distribution of the lamp shows that a

great deal of the emitted radiation is in the infrared region. By reducing

this infrared radiation, the efficacy of halogen incandescent lamps can be

improved. In the past few years the technology for depositing heat-

resistant high quality interference filters on complex surfaces has been

substantially improved. Filters can now be used on halogen incandescent

lamps, for instance, to reflect infrared radiation back to the filament. The

bulb shapes, the spectral reflection of the filter, and the position of the

filament with respect to the reflector, determine the percentage of

infrared radiation that is reflected radiation. An improvement in efficacy

of upto 40 percent can now be obtained at constant lamps life. Model

calculations show that a considerable increase of this percentage must

be theoretically possible. Since these interference filters have no

absorption, they are highly efficient.

The techniques for depositing those coatings will

certainly be improved in the future. A step up of the production process

will lead to cost reduction and consequently to a more general

application of the filters.

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Fluorescent lighting systems:- The advantages

of a fluorescent lighting system are : High efficacy, Great variety in

colour temperature (2700°-6500°K), short run-up time, Good

maintenance and long life.

In the past improvements of fluorescent lighting

systems have mainly been achieved by improvement of the fluorescent

powder. Compared to the lamps coated with halophosphates, lamps with

rare earth oxides have a better maintenance and improved performance.

Although halophosphate lamps are still in production, the rare - earth

oxide lamps are beginning to supercede these. In the past decade the 38

mm fluorescent lamp has been replaced in many countries by a more

efficient 26 mm diameter lamps. The rare gas filled in this lamp is

adjusted to reduce the lamp wattage in order to keep the luminous flux

constant for lamps of the same length. This results in efficiency

improvement of about 10 percent. A further enhancement of the

discharge efficiency can be obtained by the introduction of the high-

frequency lamp currents using electronic to control gears. The increase

in efficiency is mainly the result of a reduction of the electrode losses.

Recently another major technological breakthrough has led to an

introduction of 16 mm diameter lamps. This requires 12.5 percent less

energy compared to the conventional lamps.

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The last decade has also witnessed introduction

of several compact fluorescent lamps. In these lamps the tube diameter

is reduced to values of 10-12 mm and the discharge tube is bent to

achieve a compact construction. This trend of miniaturisation adds to

conservation of material and reduction in process energy required in

lamp luminaire making.

Luminaries

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The steady increase in electricity tariff made the

housewife more conscious about energy saving lamps and luminaires in

home lighting. Instead of using incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps

and luminaires are being accepted for kitchen, bathroom, passages,

dining room, etc. For smaller houses fluorescent lamps arc being

accepted even for drawing room and bedroom mainly to save in

electricity bill. With the advent of energy saving compact fluorescent

lamp, it is possible to reduce the electricity bill further by using CFL 9W

or CFL 11W lamps. Smaller size of lamp made it possible to make

luminaire more compact, sleek and elegant. The luminaries are suitable

for recessed or surface mounting, wall or ceiling mounting with varieties

of decorative attachment.

There is another trend of "Do-It- Yourself the

home owners prefer to have a luminaire and lamp which can be easily

installed and maintained by them without calling an electrician.

Manufacturer provides installation instructions for their home lighting

range and also the hardwares required for the same in the packing box.

Lighting Systems

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Lighting is an art as well as a science. So there

are no hard and fast rules governing the design process, especially when

it comes to your own home where personal taste and style play a leading

role. Nevertheless, let's take a look at each room.

T h e Fr o n t D o o r

With good front door and porch lighting, the door

itself, especially the keyhole, the ground immediately in front of your

door and the step becomes clearly, visible. Perfect lighting can be

achieved using lights from the ceiling or a wall-mounted luminaire where

the lamp is properly screened.

Entranc e Hall, Land ings, Passages & Stairca ses

Create a welcoming atmosphere by brightly

lighting your entrance hall. Use ceiling lights and highlight a painting or

sculpture with spotlights. Decor and spotline lamps are a good choice.

On landings and in passages, sufficient luminaires should be installed to

create relatively uniform lighting on the floor. Downlighting with a wide

spread of light is often the best solution.

The lighting of staircases is most important in

order of prevent accidents. Avoid the mistake of lighting the steps from

below, or a person descending the stairs will not he able to properly pick

out the edge of each step. If on the other hand, the luminarie is

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positioned above and somewhat in advance of the topmost tread, short

shadows will be created and the edges of the steps clearly defined.

The Living Room

The living room is always a beehive of activity -

reading, writing, watching television, talking and entertaining. The living

room is the very heart of the home, which is sufficient reason to light it

well. Precisely because of its different uses, the keynotes of living room

lighting must be flexibility combined with aesthetics. A balance of all

three types of lighting, general background, task and accent lighting will

give you the desired effect.

General Lighting

When entering the living room at night, general

orientation lighting must be present. A single luminarie from ceiling will

provide the ambient lighting needed for this purpose. Choose between a

single decor lamp on the ceiling or a luminaire with pearl, electronic

retrofit lamps.

Reading

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Reading demands relatively strong light, the

correct amount depending on the age of the reader. Equally important is

the brightness balance between the reading task and the surroundings.

Reading in a small pool of light surrounded by darkness is tiring and

unpleasant. So make sure that the reading light is properly supplemented

by general lighting. The actual reading light should be placed beside and

somewhat behind the reader chair. The traditional floor or standard lamp

in all its simplicity is excellent when used with the proper shade.

Writing

Whether in the living room or else where, writing

demands adequate local lighting. The lamp itself should not throw any

light in the direction of the eyes, and cause a glare. Preferably it should

be to tally shielded. Avoid the reflected glare from the paper by correctly

positioning the luminaire to the side.

Wa t c h i n g t e l e v i s i o n

Television viewing should never be done in

darkness. Make sure there is enough low-level lighting to soften the

contrast that would otherwise be too tiring on the eyes. A spotline will do,

because it bounches off light in the opposite direction and does not

reflect on the TV screen.

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Conservation

The living room is usually abuzz with

conversation many times of the day. The lighting should therefore

facilitate eye contact and model faces in a natural manner. It is not very

pleasant to have to talk to a silhoutte. Luminaires with large shades will

provide the required lighting harmony in a sitting room. Dimmers can be

used to set a level that creates an intimate atmosphere.

Accent lighting

The lighting in the living room would not be

complete without some highlights on paintings and other arte facts.

Apart from its stylish appeal, accent lighting also provides certain amount

of ambient light. Spotlights meet the need very well when fitted with

incandescent or halogen lamps.

Dining Room

Not only Should the table itself and the dishes

on it receive direct lighting, but the faces of the diners should be

included as well. A luminaire is suspended above the table is a good

solution. Decor lamps in luminaires with glass or fabric shades,

providing direct lighting on the faces. However, keep the brightness low

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in the direction of the faces. The positioning of the luminaire is very

important. Too high - and there is the risk of seeing the lamp. Too low -

and the luminaire will obstruct eye contact. The correct height is usually

about 60 cms above the table top. To help retaining the lighting level, to

suit the occasion or task, or simply to leave the table corner lighted when

not in use, as part of the living room landscape, use a diffused light with

a dimmer. Alternately, use a decorative lamp for its aesthetic appeal.

The Kitchen

The key in the kitchen is to have shadow free

general and local lighting on every surface that you use, including the

sink, stove and working platforms. This light should reach all surfaces,

not only the horizontal work surfaces, but also the vertical ones, to

facilitate the task of finding things in cupboards.

General lighting grom the ktichen ceiling

ensures a good view - overall and into cupboards. Under-cupboard

luminaires with fluorescents provide good lighting on work surfaces.

Lighting must also be such as to make it easy to discern even slight color

differences in the food. This means of course, that all the lamps used

should show colours naturally. In the kitchen where works goes on for

many hours each day, it is advisable to make the fullest possible use of

energy saving lamps.

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The Bedroom

General lighting in a large bedroom can be best

provided by a centrally located lamp with a luminaire that spreads the

light around comfortably. As in the other rooms, general lighting is

needed in the bedroom for orientation purposes and in order to find

things in cupboards. Contrary to what one does in other rooms, this

ambient lighting should be switched off when reading in bed with the aid

of a reading light installed at the bed head. A mirror type luminaire or an

adjustable Iuminaire or an adjustable luminaire with a Spotline lamp are

ideal for bedheads, while milky lamps are best suited for general lighting.

The Children's Room

In the children's room however, lighting must be

slightly different. Children learn only gradually that their environment is

full of dangers. And as their eagerness to explore extends over all

objects and areas within their reach, it is best that their room is brightly

and uniformly lit. Long, harsh shadows as well as glaring, unscreened

lamps should be avoided. Similarly, narrow beam spotlights, which are

often used to provide decorative effects in other areas of the home

should be avoided.

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Children like a lot of light, although they in fact

need loss than their parents for a given activity. Dim light, often

considered relaxing by older people, might, be frightening for young

children. Keep in mind that most young children like some kind of night

lamp in the room. One or more ceiling a diffusing confer can provide the

right lighting all over the room. Opt for CFLs.

The Bathroom

The bathroom, like the kitchen, poses a lighting

challenge. General lighting is needed for orientation and to allow one to

find things in cupboards. It should be diffused (a large luminaire as in the

kitchen), and yet strong enough to penetrate the shower curtain.

Additional local lighting is required at the mirror, where for shaving or

make-up activities the smallest details have to be discerned. The aim is

to cast light on the face and not on the mirror itself. It is best to arrange

for the light to come from two sides and, ideally, from above and below

as well. Excellent results are obtained when large-surface, linear

luminaries are mounted vertically on both sides of the mirror. Tubular

incandescents, fluorescent provide uniform illumination, revealing the

most critical details.

Garden Lighting

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If a person is fortunate enough to have a

garden, you can achieve stunning effects by highlighting attractive areas

and features using weather-proof floodlight luminaires with incandescent

reflector lamps. For the best effect, conceal the light source behind a

wall or a tree, directing the light upwards. Fittings in the ground like

Bollards are ideal for low-level lighting to display rockeries, lawns and

flowerbeds. Patios and paved areas look great bathed in the white light

of halogen floodlights. A warm atmosphere can be created by installing

decorative wall fittings or tall post top lanterns along pathways, fitted

with CFLs.

Maintenance

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Using the most energy effective light sources

and efficient luminaires will not serve the purpose if they are not

properly maintained. The effective maintenance criteria of lighting

installation should be set as part of the lighting design. The cost of

maintenance, the availability of financial and manpower resources,

reliability, the impact on safety at home, energy management and

therefrom, the overall cost, are the factors that should be embraced by

the lighting technique adopted. While selecting and installing the

luminaires due attention should be given towards the ease of

maintenance. Better maintenance not only improve the lighting but also

improve the interior decor and the total environment at home

Conclusion

The new developments are contributing to

reduction in the cost of conserving energy and making lighting system

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more comfortable and productive. Lighting load being around 17 percent,

the energy consumption is high as compared to the international scene

and there is dire need to arrest this trend of squandering of resources.

The lighting design process should optimise the energy usage and use it

effectively to meet quantitative goals. To achieve this, lighting design

process should begin with user perception, behaviour, performance and

end with management of non renewable energy sources.

Reference

Electrical India ( 15 th May 2000 )

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