Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lamps are considered to be the most energy efficient, but they often suffer from a reputation as flickering, eerie sources of light suitable only for institutional settings. They are the light source of choice in industrial and commercial settings because of their efficiency and long life—something worth considering for your home as well. Modern fluorescent fixtures have a place in residential settings.
A fluorescent lamp is constructed with …

• A glass tube.
• Argon or argon-krypton gas and a small amount of mercury.
• Phosphor coating on the inside of the tube.
• Electrodes at each end of the tube.

As electricity passes between the tube’s electrodes, it jostles the mercury atoms, which then give off ultraviolet radiation. The radiation is converted to light when it interacts with the phosphors lining the tube. The fixture itself comes with a ballast to kick-start the current passing within the tube and to keep it regulated. The range of phosphors available to manufacturers enables them to produce lamps with different color tones for different applications.
Fluorescent fixtures also produce less heat and more light for the amount of electricity they consume as compared to incandescent lamps.
One of the biggest changes in fluorescent technology is the shape and size of the lamps. In the past, you were stuck with straight, U-shaped, or circular figures. (The last always seemed to be used outside small-town, drive-in, ice-cream stands for some reason.) Now we have compact fluorescent lamps that can be an efficient substitute for incandescent lamps. A 40-watt compact fluorescent lamp, for example, can replace a 150-watt incandescent lamp and can last up to 10 times longer. (It had better, given the typical cost of $20 or more.) Two types of replacement units are available:

1. Integral units, which include a compact fluorescent lamp and ballast in a self-contained unit
2. Modular units, in which the bulb is replaceable Now you know that you can replace your incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps, but is it worth it?

Tungsten-Halogen Lamps

These lamps (which are smaller in size than standard incandescent lamps) also heat up a tungsten filament, but they contain halogen gas. The gas combines with the evaporated tungsten to create tungsten halide gas that deposits the tungsten back onto the filament, extending its life. After the deposit, halogen gas is released and the process starts all over. The smaller size of the lamp enables the filament to heat up to a higher temperature and a higher efficiency.
Because none of the tungsten is deposited on the glass, a halogen lamp burns brighter and has a very focused, intense light.

Incandescent Lamps

This is the most familiar type of lamp. An electric current passes through and heats a tungsten filament, producing a glowing light. (The term “incandescent” literally means “to glow or become hot.”) Over time, heat evaporates the tungsten, and it eventually weakens and breaks. The lamp contains a chemically inert gas that allows the tungsten vapor from the heated element to deposit on the sides of the glass. This is why standard incandescent lamps gradually become darker over time. If they are too small, the tungsten coating would turn them opaque, and they’d be useless as a source of light. Incandescent lamps are cheap to produce and are versatile in application, but they are considered to be impractical by energy conservationists as a source of light given modern alternatives. They produce a considerable amount of waste heat for the amount of current they draw, and they have a useful life of 750 to 2,500 hours depending on the lamp. Builders traditionally install incandescent fixtures because both they and the lamps are inexpensive and are not likely to meet any resistance from price-conscious buyers. When buying lamps, take note of the voltage rating of the lamp. Typical lamps sold in stores are rated at 115 or 120 volts. At professional lighting stores, you should be able to find longer-lasting lamps rated at 130 volts.

What’s Your Lighting Type?

Lighting is divided by the type of lamp used and the style of the fixture. Lamp types include …
➤ Incandescent.
➤ Fluorescent.
➤ Halogen.
Each of these has distinguishing characteristics, as described in the following list. When it comes to fixture styles, the sky’s the limit. They range from antique reproductions to one-of-a-kind works of art (with prices to match). The following are some of the most common light fixtures:
➤ Flush-mounted ceiling lights that include square, mushroom, or round domes
➤ Hanging ceiling lights and chandeliers
➤ Surface fluorescent lights
➤ Recessed ceiling lights
➤ Track lighting
➤ Bath bars
➤ Sconces and wall-mounted lights
➤ Wall washes
➤ Undercabinet-mounted lights
➤ Outdoor lights (floodlighting, landscape lighting, pole-mounted lights, wallmounted lights, and security lighting)

All of these will light up a given area. You just have to decide whether they will provide light that you find both appropriate and pleasing to the eye. Your budget also is a consideration, especially if you’re buying fixtures for a major remodel. An outdoor landscaping light, for example, can be a simple pagoda light or an ornate—and expensive—leaded-glass lamp. (The latter is not recommended if you have kids, dogs, or errant adults running around the yard.)

Looks Are Something

The cheapest porcelain fixtures with 100-watt bulbs might provide safe lighting, but they won’t be much to look at. Visualize the appearance of the fixture and the lamp as well as their function. Some fixtures literally are works of art (Tiffany lamps, for example); others are designer-created and are very striking to look at. Do you want to look at a brass hanging light over the kitchen table or cobalt-blue steel? You’re going to be looking at them every day, so take your time choosing your fixtures.

Combining Lighting Styles

Most general living space will accommodate more than one lighting style. A closet
obviously doesn’t need accent lighting unless you make a point of giving your guests
a tour of your shoe collection. A dining room needs ambient light, but it can become
very dramatic with, say, floor-to-ceiling lights illuminating the side walls while the recessed
ceiling lights are off and a few lit candles are on the table. A mix of lighting
offers the most options and can present a room and its occupants at their best in a
variety of settings.

Whether you’re building something new or remodeling, keep your furniture in mind
rather than strictly installing lights by formula (so many per square feet at such and
such a distance from each other). You might have a grand piano ready to nestle in a
corner of the living room or a windowless wall just waiting for your collection of
family portraits. Either situation calls for very specific fixture placement.

Lighting Up Outside

I think exterior lighting is always a plus with any. Good lighting will welcome you and your guests on a rainy night, provide some measure of security for your family, and illuminate address numbers, door locks, and staircases. Before you decide to install fixtures as powerful as Batman’s searchlight, consider the following:

• Know the size of the fixture and its scale compared to your house.
• Think about the location and aim of the lights and their effect on your neighbors. (A little light goes a long way at night.)Caulk the top seam between the fixture and the section of the house where it’s attached to ensure that water stays out. Leave the bottom uncaulked so that, if moisture does get in, it has a place to exit.
• Think twice before installing solid-brass fixtures. They won’t rust, but eventually most will tarnish and need polishing.

Installing outside lighting, like many tasks, can be done the easy way or the hard way. The easy way means mounting all the fixtures on the walls of your house (and porch ceilings), which means you can pull your wires from inside the house. The hard way means digging ditches and running wires and conduit underground, although this will give your yard a much more dramatic presentation. As a final consideration, think about what your outdoor lighting will look like from inside the house. You can enjoy your yard even in the winter if you set up lighting that accents it well.