A

David

Darling

lighting types

efficient lighting

When selecting energy-efficient lighting, explore the various lighting options for indoors and/or outdoors.

 

Types of lighting include:

 

  • Fluorescent lighting
  • High-intensity discharge lighting
  • Incandescent lighting
  • Low-pressure sodium lighting
  • Outdoor solar lighting
  • Solid state lighting
  •  

    Use the chart below to compare some of the different types of lighting.

     

    Lighting comparison chart
    Lighting type Efficacy
    (lumens/watt)
    Lifetime
    (hours)
    Color rendition index (CRI) Color temperature
    (K)
    Indoors/outdoors
    Incandescent          
    Standard "A" bulb 10–17 750–2500 98–100 (excellent) 2700–2800 (warm) Indoors/outdoors
    Tungsten halogen 12–22 2000–4000 98–100 (excellent) 2900–3200 (warm to neutral) Indoors/outdoors
    Reflector 12–19 2000–3000 98–100 (excellent) 2800 (warm) Indoors/outdoors
    Fluorescent          
    Straight tube 30–110 7000–24,000 50–90 (fair to good) 2700–6500 (warm to cold) Indoors/outdoors
    Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) 50–70 10,000 65–88 (good) 2700–6500 (warm to cold) Indoors/outdoors
    Circline 40–50 12,000     Indoors
    High-intensity discharge          
    Mercury vapor 25–60 16,000–24,000 50 (poor to fair) 3200–7000 (warm to cold) Outdoors
    Metal halide 70–115 5000–20,000 70 (fair) 3700 (cold) Indoors/outdoors
    High-pressure sodium 50–140 16,000–24,000 25 (poor) 2100 (warm) Outdoors
    Low-pressure sodium 60–150 12,000–18,000 -44 (very poor)   Outdoors