© 2005, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (www.ashrae.org).

Reprinted by per-
mission from ASHRAE Journal, (Vol. 47, No. 12, December 2005). This article may not be copied nor distributed in either paper
or digital form without ASHRAE’s permission.

Choosing the Right Light

New research on lighting (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy) has
concluded that the lumen ratings do not tell the entire story for determin-
ing energy efficiency. The low color temperature and low color rendering
properties of high-pressure sodium lighting actually result in less ‘visually
effective’ lighting.

By Brian Liebel, P.E., and James Brodrick, Ph.D., Member ASHRAE

Lighting consumes 33% of electricity used in commercial cents, on the other hand, light instantly at nearly full output as
buildings. long as they operate within their rated temperature range.
Color Characteristics. The color of HID lamps is determined

I
n November, we focused on fluorescent lighting, comparing
system efficiencies for different lamp/ballast combinations.
To complete the discussion of energy-efficient options in
commercial lighting, we also must consider another class of
lamps—the HID class.
HID (high intensity discharge) lighting includes three types of
lamps: high pressure sodium, metal halide, and mercury vapor.
These lamps are all typified by having arc tubes (small vessel,
usually cylindrical, withstands high pressures and temperatures,
and translucent) filled with metal compounds under high pres-
sure that, when vaporized through an arc stream, emit light.
Low-pressure sodium generally is included in the HID class,
although it technically is not an HID source since it is operated
at low pressure.
Of these four lamp types, only high-pressure sodium and
metal halide lamps are used in building lighting applications.
Mercury vapor is being phased out by lighting manufacturers
due to low energy efficiencies. Low-pressure sodium has such
poor color that it is rarely, if ever, used inside buildings.
The Basics
To understand the applications for which we might consider
HID lighting, it is helpful to review some of the operating
characteristics of these light sources and to compare them to
the fluorescent lamps we discussed in our last column.
Starting characteristics. High-pressure sodium (HPS) and
metal halide (MH) lamps do not start instantly. They require a
warm-up time to start (there are a few rare exceptions for metal
halides). From a cold start, the lamps typically flicker a few
times, then glow at partial brightness, then continually brighten
during the next several minutes before they reach full output. If
the lamps are turned off and then turned back on, they are in a
re-strike mode, which generally takes even longer for them to
reach full brightness because they have to cool first. Fluores-
mainly by the mix of the metals and the pressures within the arc
tube, unlike fluorescent lighting, where the color is mainly deter-
mined by the phosphor coating on the outside of the lamps.
For interior applications, high-pressure sodium lighting
generally is limited to warehouse and industrial applications
because of poor color rendering qualities (sodium vapor is yel-
lowish in color). While attempts have been made to improve
the color of HPS lamps, the outcome has always sacrificed
energy efficiency of the lamp, and they have had only limited
success. Metal halide (MH), on the other hand, is more of a
“white light” source, which provides better lighting for visual
acuity and color recognition. Although MH historically has
been criticized for color inconsistency and instability over the
life of the lamp, recent improvements including pulse start
and ceramic arc tube technologies have made these problems
all but disappear. The color qualities of some MH lamps now
rival fluorescent lighting.
Energy Efficiency. HID lighting increases in efficiency as the
wattage of the lamp goes higher, i.e., a 1,000 W lamp is more
efficient than a 100 W lamp. High pressure sodium lamps are
rated as the most efficient light source for commercial applica-
tions in efficacy (lumens per watt, or LPW), achieving more
than 100 LPW for most lamps. Most metal halide lamps do not
achieve this level of efficiency until they are 400 W or higher.
Ceramic arc tube and pulse start metal halides, however, have
increased even the lower wattage lamps to 90 LPW or higher,
making them competitive with fluorescent lamp efficacies.
New research on lighting (sponsored by the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy) has concluded that the lumen ratings do not
tell the entire story for determining energy efficiency. The low
color temperature and low color rendering properties of high-
pressure sodium lighting actually result in less “visually effective”
lighting. The new research shows that metal halide light sources
are more energy efficient than HPS when considering the visual

122 ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org December 2005

effects of the spectrum of the light source. This new approach to
lighting will be explained in next month’s column.
Furthermore, energy efficiency of lighting is not based on the
lamp alone. To understand the wattage consumption of the lighting
system, we have to consider the ballast load. This is where fluo-
rescents typically lead over HID systems in the energy-efficiency
marketplace. HID ballasts are typically magnetic, adding 10% to
30% more consumption to the overall wattage of the systems.
Electronic ballasts are relatively new for HID lamps, and are
targeted selectively to high-volume selling lamps and lamps tar-
geted to the retail sector. These electronic ballasts are much more
efficient. For a 100 W MH lamp, the electronic ballast system watt-
age is 110 W as compared to 130 W for a magnetically ballasted
system, and for a 400 W lamp, the electronic ballast results in 417
W as compared to the typical magnetic ballast load of 450 W.
Lumen maintenance. High-pressure sodium lamps match
T8 and T5 fluorescent lamps in this aspect, maintaining more
than 90% of their rated light output throughout their rated
life. Metal halides are all over the map on this, depending on
the lamp technology and the ballasts used to drive the lamps.
Some are below 60%! The best metal halide lamps for lumen
maintenance are pulse start or ceramic metal halide lamps us-
ing electronic ballasts, which equal fluorescent systems with
lumen maintenance factors of more than 90%.
Effects of ambient temperature. HID lighting typically is
not affected by the ambient air temperature, whereas fluorescent
lighting will have a reduced output if the ambient air tempera-
ture around the bulb wall of the lamp is higher or lower than
the rated temperature. For warehouse or other unconditioned
spaces, this can be a critical factor. Overall efficiency is gauged
by the light output over the energy input, decreases in fluores-
cent light output due to hot or cold temperatures could make
the overall system less efficient than an HID system.
Optics. HID lighting has an undisputed advantage over
fluorescent lamps in its ability to direct light where you want it,
simply because that it is a point source. On the other hand, HID
lamps are substantially brighter and can be a problematic source
of glare. Applications that require the precise aiming ability of
HIDs are fairly unique, e.g., outdoor street lighting, floodlighting,
and accent lighting. For general lighting, the optical efficiency
of fluorescents, combined with proper reflector designs, can
equal the efficiencies of their HID counterparts, which is why
fluorescents are used increasingly in industrial applications where
HID lighting has been traditionally used.
December 2005
When to Use Which Lamp
This all-too-brief summary of the operating characteristics
of HID and fluorescent lamps leads one to question how to
choose between HID and fluorescent lighting. It’s a good ques-
tion with a fairly simple but unsatisfying answer—it depends.
The one rule about HID lighting is that there are exceptions to
every rule, so we have to begin with the knowledge that there
are very specific HID lamps and ballasts that work for some
applications, but not for others.
Some basic guidelines are:
• Do not use HPS lamps in interior applications. HPS light-
ing is less visually effective, has poor color rendering,
and results in lower levels of occupant satisfaction. Add
to this some of the other general issues of HID lamps,
and we find few reasons supporting the use of these
lamps indoors, although they are still well suited to many
outdoor lighting applications.
• Use fluorescent lighting where occupancy sensors are
used. Fluorescent lighting has the ability to turn on and
off instantly, whereas HID lighting has warm-up times
associated with them. Where these occupancy sensors
are turning lights on and off frequently during the day,
use programmed start ballasts for the fluorescent lighting
rather than instant start ballasts, as this adds about 20%
longer life to the lamps.
• If control flexibility is required, fluorescent fixtures offer
better and more cost-effective solutions. Fluorescent fix-
tures can easily be two- or three-level switched, whereas
HID fixtures typically only have one lamp that is either
on or off. Multiple-switched fluorescents fixtures often
are used in lieu of the more costly continuous dimming
strategies using HID fixtures and dimming ballasts.
• Be careful in unconditioned spaces. Ambient air tem-
peratures in unconditioned warehouses can easily fall
below 52°F (11°C) and rise above 111°F (44°C), the
points at which T8 lamps have a 20% reduction in light
output. Going beyond these extremes one way or another
further decreases light output. Furthermore, hot tempera-
tures can have a significant negative effect on the life of
both fluorescent and HID electronic ballasts (check the
maximum case temperature rating). Metal halide systems
usually are the better performers in these applications.
Some fluorescent fixture manufacturers are addressing
ASHRAE Journal 123
 this issue by developing designs that regulate the air
temperature within the fixture to meet the optimized
lamp operating temperature.
• When using metal halide lamps, always look for the ceramic
pulse-start type, and use electronic ballasts if available.
These systems provide the highest levels of energy ef-
ficiency, the best color characteristics, and the best lumen
maintenance of all HID lamp/ballast combinations. Use
caution. Check with both the lamp and ballast manufacturers
to ensure compatibility of all components. These systems
generally are more costly than standard metal halide sys-
tems. However, they typically pay off in energy savings
and the long-term benefits associated with better lumen
maintenance, color consistency, and increased lamp life.

Summary
Generally speaking, the comparison of fluorescent and metal ha-
lide light sources for high-bay and industrial applications requires
a careful analysis of the luminaire efficiency, lamp/ballast effi-
ciency, accompanying controls strategy, ambient air temperature
surrounding the lamps, and end-user maintenance capabilities. All
these things are weighed differently for each project.
For commercial interior applications, the overriding factors
are color qualities and on/off control capabilities. Low wattage
HID lamps that traditionally have been used for downlights in
interior spaces have been replaced with higher wattage compact
fluorescent lamps, for example.
On the other hand, recent improvements in metal halide
technologies continue to expand in the accent lighting market.
Some of the most exciting changes in lighting during the last
five years have been in the arena of large-scale retail applica-
tions using metal halide reflector lamps (PAR lamps) to replace
incandescent accent light sources, and these trends will become
more prevalent as more manufacturers produce products for
these lamps at more cost-effective price points.
Finally, we must note that many of the products mentioned in
this column are changing monthly, making it difficult to general-
ize about the available products. The largest challenge lighting
specifiers have is keeping up with the newest technologies, and
determining whether the new technologies will be “keepers.”
Will they be around five years from now? The best approach to
answer this question is to determine which manufacturers are
making the products, be it a lamp, ballast, or lighting fixture.
Look for products that are being manufactured by more than
one company and always ask competitors for their viewpoints. Al-
though criticisms and conflicting viewpoints exist, a good product
is best determined by the level to which it is duplicated.

Brian Liebel, P.E., is principal of AfterImage + Space in

Emeryville, Calif. He is a member of IESNA. James Brodrick,
Ph.D., is a project manager, Building Technologies Program,
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.

124 ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org December 2005