Kitchen Lighting Design & Energy Savings

Families today pass many hours in their kitchen, and gone are the times when a single fixture in the kitchen’s ceiling was a satisfactory solution.

Modern kitchens demand adequate and efficient lighting, and energy savings are particularly important. If you are going to remodel or to build a new kitchen, bet on a highly efficient lighting system, namely on…

- an adequate kitchen lighting design;
- high efficient fixtures and fluorescent lighting;
- dimmers and separated switches and controls for each area of lighting;
- kitchen ceiling fans.

Size of the Kitchen & Lighting Design

The lighting design of a kitchen is highly dependent of its size and configuration. Small kitchens might only demand a central fluorescent fixture and some task lighting under cabinets, but a larger kitchen will demand a more complex lighting.

Kitchen lighting techniques

Kitchen lighting design is based on three main types of lighting:

- Ambient or general lighting;
- Task lighting: to illuminate particular areas of the kitchen;
- Accent decorative lighting: for details, depth and décor (examples: recessed low-voltage fixtures to highlight art; fixtures strategically placed to illuminate collections).

It’s a good lighting practice to begin with task lighting - for countertops, breakfast area and other possible areas of the kitchen. General background light is often studied later.


Lighting Kitchen & Task Areas

Fluorescents are excellent as task lights. They are a common option under cabinets, where they perform a direct illumination of the counters. There are specific cabinet flat fixtures that can use fluorescents. More focused lighting – a light over the sink, for instance – can also be performed by a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL).

Recessed lights placed above counters as task lighting may also be fluorescents (CFLs).  

Eating Area and Pendant light fixtures

Pendant light fixtures are excellent to individualize areas in the kitchen. Lighting the eating area is a good example of such application. Pendants allow a localized task light, and are excellent as a decorative element and to «separate» that area.

Pendant fixtures can also be used in rooms attached to kitchen (breakfast rooms, for instance).

General Lighting

In some cases, namely in very small kitchens, task lighting may turn general lighting rather dispensable. Well placed lights over the counters may provide all the needed lighting. But in most cases, general lighting is indispensable.

General lighting creates a warmer room and softens shadows. General lighting is often placed on the ceiling or on the space between the cabinets and the ceiling (if the cabinets do not reach that space).

Ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are an excellent option on kitchen lighting, namely as a general lighting option. They are very useful during warmer weather (allowing cooling savings) and since they can be equipped with decorative lighting fixtures they can also be decorative. Energy Star has many qualified ceiling fans for kitchens. 

See for more details: Ceiling fans

Direct and indirect lighting

The use of both direct and indirect lighting allows an excellent lighting output for kitchens. Indirect lighting is obtained by hidden lights - on top or under cabinets or in hidden ceiling areas - when the light reflects itself on a ceiling or a wall.

Direct lighting is obtained by using recessed and surface lights, or light fixtures on pendant and chains.

High ceiling and colors of the kitchen

Higher kitchen ceilings demand brighter light bulbs. Darker colors of kitchen counters – dark marbles… - or other surfaces might imply additional lighting.

Fluorescent lights

Selection of high-efficiency lamps and fixtures is essential in kitchen lighting. Whenever possible, prefer fluorescent lighting for your kitchen. They are more expensive, but they last much longer than incandescent, and consume much less. Classical fluorescent lamps (tubes) and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are a major element of energy savings.

Today’s CFLs can be used with ordinary fixtures, and since they are small and adapted to ordinary fixtures they can perform the design and lighting functions usually reserved to incandescents.

See for details: Fluorescent lights

Controls and switches

Bet on separated switches for each lighting area. Different lights should have separate controls - the counter, the breakfast table area, the sink or the pantry can each have a separate switch… – in order to obtain energy savings.

Light dimmers can reduce the wattage and output of lamps - and lighting controls are also commonly used to smooth transition between the kitchen and adjacent rooms or complementary spaces.

See: Lighting controls

See also:
House Lighting Basics
Low-voltage outdoor lighting kits;
Outdoor solar lighting.
Landscape lighting design
Bathroom Lighting
Family, living and dining rooms
The Lighting Association

 
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