Luminaire efficacy
According to BRE’s The essential guide to retail lighting:
A luminaire is a ‘Light fixture or fitting; an electrical device used to create artificial light and / or illumination, by use of an electric lamp.’
Luminaire efficacy is the ‘Light output of an entire luminaire divided by the total power consumed by the lamps and ballasts. Equal to the lamp efficacy multiplied by the light output ratio of the luminaire.’
It is expressed in lumens per Watt (lm/W).
Ballast or control gear, is ‘Part of the control equipment of fluorescent or discharge lamps, used to stabilise the current. The older, traditional main-frequency ballast can consume up to 20-25% of the total lamp current. A modern electronic ballast working at high frequency consumes about 30% less current, and can be used to regulate or dim the lamp output.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Ballast or control gear.
- Colour appearance.
- Colour Rendering Index CRI.
- Daylight benefits in healthcare buildings.
- Daylight factor.
- Daylight lighting systems.
- Dichroic reflector.
- Discharge lamp.
- Extra-low voltage lamps.
- General lighting v task lighting.
- Illuminance.
- Lamp.
- Lamp efficacy.
- Lighting.
- Lighting energy numeric indicator LENI.
- Lighting of construction sites.
- Luminaire.
Featured articles and news
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.