Lighting

Figure 1. LED light bulbs are some of the most energy efficient light bulbs available and can reduce energy costs.

Lighting is a general term that refers to the process of illuminating a home, workplace, or street to make it livable. Different technologies are used, such as light bulbs, kerosene lanterns, charcoal burners, or through daylighting. Lighting spaces uses a significant amount of energy and can release a large amount of emissions, but the amount of light that can be obtained for a certain amount of energy varies depending on the fuel used. For example, LED bulbs are far more efficient than burning biomass for light (see Figure 1).

Lighting and Energy Use

Residential lighting uses a significant amount of energy. In Canada, during 2019, 3.5% of residential energy use was connected to lighting. Although the use of lights cannot be completely cut out, as it is necessary for comfort and functionality, it can be reduced. Lighting costs can be reduced by:

• Using natural lighting when possible
• Installing more efficient bulbs (halogen, compact fluorescent, and LED bulbs all have different efficiencies)
• Turning lights off when not in use
• Using controls such as timers and motion sensors to ensure lights are not on when they are not needed
• Designing and using lighting with energy efficiency considerations

The appropriate measure for lighting is lumens rather than watts. Watts indicate the amount of power used by the bulb, whereas lumens represent the amount of light provided by the bulb. Comparing wattage can be misleading, as bulbs that use less energy may still provide the same amount of light (in lumens). Using lumens to compare bulbs allows for more direct comparisons of light quantity.

For more information about the efficiency of different light bulbs, see National Resources Canada's page here or check out the light bulb page.

Lighting in Underdeveloped Countries

Limited access to electricity in developing countries often leads to lower quality lighting. It is estimated that around 655 million people worldwide do not have access to electricity in their homes. 563 million being people located in Sub-Saharan Africa. As well, most of the people who do not have access to electricity are part of the rural population, about 79% of people without access to electricity live in rural areas.

In addition to this, those who do not have access to electricity use other fuels for cooking and lighting. These fuels are less efficient, more polluting, and provide a lower quality of light. The access to non-solid fuels is key to improving lighting quality, as solid fuels are some of the most polluting. In Figures 2 and 3 below, a comparison of the light provided from a kerosene lantern versus an LED lamp is shown. It is clear that the kerosene lantern provides much poorer light which makes working, studying, and other tasks more difficult. As well, the incomplete combustion of fuels such as charcoal and kerosene results in harmful and polluting smoke that poses a significant heath risk. Using these fuels increases chances of death from pneumonia, stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and other ailments.

• Comparing Lighting Technologies
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  Figure 2. A man working by the light of a kerosene lantern. This type of lighting provides dim light that is not easy to work in.
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  Figure 3. The same room lit by an LED lamp, providing much more light. This makes work much easier.

Access to lighting is important in ensuring a satisfactory quality of life for people and promoting economic development. Increased access to high quality light improves education, entertainment, health, comfort, protection, and productivity. In a study done in the Philippines, it was determined that access to electricity provided families with improved education as children could study more easily after dark. As well, not having to collect the fuels to burn saves time for people in the family, particularly the women. As well, increased access to electricity simplified household tasks and improved the productivity of home businesses. Overall, it was estimated that 1.82 years of education were added in electrified households and the monthly benefit was $10.33.

For Further Reading

• Light
• Lumen
• Light bulb
• Access to electricity
• Quality of life
• Or explore a random page