All lighting in this section *complies with the Code for Sustainable Homes November 2010 criteria.
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To comply with CfSH 2010 criteria internal lighting is now included in the SAP calculation. To achieve a SAP rating internal lighting must meet Part L1A 2010 specification. In summary, this comprises of:

• a bulb providing light in excess of 400 lumens
• to provide light at an efficiency of more than 45 lumens per watt
• light fittings using less than 5W (typically LED lights) are excluded from the count to encourage their use

Part L1A was revised in 2010 increasing the efficiency requirements for fixed internal lighting to a minimum of 45 lumens per watt with bulbs producing a minimum light of 400 lumens:

When you are looking for a light bulb, it is generally broken down into a code. This code comprises of several different parts, explained as follows:

Candle BC 10w

Candle is the shape of the bulb, in this case a candle shape

BC is the type of fitting or connection, in this case a BC or Bayonet Cap

10w is the wattage

Light Fittings/Connections

L1/G10 - L1 is a dedicated low energy fitting. Whilst very similar to GU10, the noticeable difference is the recess hole in the middle bottom of the cap. The L1 lamp holder has a pin which fits into this hole, preventing the use of non L1 compliant bulbs (G10 bulbs). The L1 cap is normally used with CFL (compact flourescent light) bulbs.

Types of light bulb

Whilst there are many different shapes of light bulb available (including golf ball, candle, tube, downlight etc), there are 3 main ways in which light is generated:

CFL - stands for compact flourescant light. These lights currently provide the best balance of efficiency and light (lumens).

LED - stands for light emitting diode. LEDs are the most energy efficient bulbs available however at the moment there are only limited choices

Halogen - The cheapest and most widely available lights today. Whilst slightly more efficient than incandescent bulbs, they still use approximately 70% of the energy of old incandescent bulbs and generate a lot of heat. Halogen bulbs

Incandescent - Traditional lights that emit bright light but use a lot of energy and generally have a shorter life span than the other types of bulb. These types of light have now been banned across Europe due to their low energy efficiency.

Bulb Brightness

Light is measured in lumens. The higher the number the brighter the light. Here is a table showing the different levels from different bulbs: