Lighting is very important in a new home. It allows you to make the most out of many other features. There are many different types of lighting fixtures to choose from. Here's some of the lingo about lighting you should understand before building a home.

Types of Fixtures

A number of different lighting fixtures are found in most homes. Some of the most common include:

• Pendant

• Sconce

• Mini-Pendant

• Chandelier

• Close-to-Ceiling

• Bath & Vanity

Each fixture is a bit different and can be used in a different part of the house. For example, you will most likely use a chandelier in an entry way or a dining room, while the close-to-ceiling lights may be found in the kitchen.

Light Measurements

The light and power used for each fixture comes with different measurements. The most important to understand include:

• Watt - This is the measure of the electrical power needed for the bulb, not how bright the actual light will be.

• Lumen - The most common type of measurement, this will tell you how much light the bulb will create.

• Efficacy - This is the expression of lumens per watt and tells you how much light a source will give off for each watt.

• Color Rendering Index (CRI) - This measurement will tell you how well the colors are rendered from the light.

Along with the measurements of light, it's important to understand the sources, which include:

• Light Emitting Diodes (LED) - LEDS produce visible light from an electrical current passing through them. They are known to be the most versatile and most efficient light.

• Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) - A CFL is a bulb that has been compressed into a standard incandescent bulb. They typically last about six times as long and user about 25% of the actual power compared to an incandescent bulb.

It's important to understand some of the lighting lingo when you build a home. This will help make the decisions for fixtures and actual bulbs much easier.