There are many different types of artificial lights (formally called "lamps" in the lighting industry,) which have different applications and uses. Types of lighting include:
New lamp designs that use energy-efficient technology are now readily available in the residential market. It is important to use the correct terminology when researching the type of lighting you want in your home or business, and when you discuss lighting with sales representatives. This website uses industry terms and, where necessary, relates those terms to terms people often use.
| Lighting Type | Efficacy (lumens/watt) |
Lifetime (hours) |
Color Rendition Index (CRI) |
Color Temperature (K) |
Indoors/Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorescent | |||||
|
Linear Fluorescent Lamp (LFLs) (Also known as "tube" or "straight tube" fluorescents.) |
65–110 |
24,000–80,000 | Available in 70s, 80s, or 90s | 2,700–6,500 (warm to cool white) | Indoors/outdoors |
| Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) | 60–80 | 10,000 | 77–88 (good) | 2,700–6,500 (warm to cool white) | Indoors/outdoors |
| High-Intensity Discharge | |||||
| Metal Halide | 70–115 | 5,000–30,000 | Available in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s | 3,000–4,200 | Indoors/outdoors |
| High-Pressure Sodium | 50–140 | 16,000–40,000 | 25 (poor) | 2,100 (warm) | Outdoors |
| Incandescent | |||||
|
Standard "A-19" (Commonly called "light bulbs," "bulbs," or "A-19 bulbs.") |
10–17 | 750–2,500 | 98–100 (excellent) | 2,700–2,800 (warm) | Indoors/outdoors |
| Energy-Saving Incandescent (or Halogen) | 12–22 | 1,000–4,000 | 98–100 (excellent) | 2,900–3,200 (warm to neutral) | Indoors/outdoors |
| Reflector | 12–19 | 2,000–3,000 | 98–100 (excellent) | 2,800 (warm) | Indoors/outdoors |
| Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) | |||||
| Omnidirectional replacement lamps | 70–130 | 25,000–50,000 | Available in 70s, 80s, 90s | 2,700–6,500 (warm to cool white) | Indoors/ outdoors |
| Directional replacement lamps | 61–140 | 25,000–50,000 | Available in 70s, 80s, 90s | 2,700–6,500 (warm to cool white) | Indoors/ outdoors |