From the dawn of civilization until recent times, human beings created light solely from fire, though it is more a source of heat than light. We are still using the same principle in the 21st century to produce light and heat through... more
From the dawn of civilization until recent times, human beings created light solely from fire, though it is more a source of heat than light. We are still using the same principle in the 21st century to produce light and heat through incandescent lamps. Only in the past few decades have lighting products become much more sophisticated and varied. Estimates indicate that energy consumption by lighting is about 20 - 45% of a commercial building’s total energy consumption and about 3 - 10% in an industrial plant’s total energy consumption. Most industrial and commercial energy users are aware of energy savings in lighting systems. Often significant energy savings can be realized with a minimal investment of capital and common sense. Replacing mercury vapor or incandescent sources with metal halide or high pressure sodium will generally result in reduced energy costs and increased visibility. Installing and maintaining photo-controls, time clocks, and energy management systems can also achieve extraordinary savings. However, in some cases it may be necessary to consider modifications of the lighting design in order to achieve the desired energy savings. It is important to understand that efficient lamps alone would not ensure efficient lighting systems.
