HOW TO LIGHT THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 11

HOW TO LIGHT THE HOUSE.

; It is calculated by experts (savs a writer in the "Daily. Mail") that moro than one-half, probably two-thirds, of all artificial light produced is wasted by going to places where it:is not wanted. If the lighting bill of a house:is £6 a year, quito £3 js money thrown away for -.want of a littlo common senso. In tho, United Kingdom we'loso £10,000,000 to £15,000,000 by waste .of light. (

Pliblic authorities are extravagant. Any Londoner, for instance, may seo what can be 1 : done in Fleet Street,' where nearly the whole of the . light from-tho street lamps is thrown to the ground, whore it is needed. -liero, the' people get twenty "shillings' worth of .value for every pound spent on gas.

But if he will next visit tho Embankment and Westminster Bridge, ho will see how money, can'be wasted. ' / Here the parapet lamps have half their light kept in by dirt and broad iron bands; moro than; half the remainder goes to llluminato the clouds; and only about three or four shillings' worth, for each pound spent, comes to the ground. In a book by Mr. F. J. Cravath, lately issued,; some very, useful information on '.lighting is given; • Mr.. Cravath points out. two very great faults 'in-.the/, lighting of private houses. First, too much of , the light is allowed to be wasted on walls and ceilings. Socoiidlyj. the' bare light is usually allowed to strike:directly on the eyes, to the.serious, though! gradual, injury of these organs. Speaking of a theatro in Chicago, ;which had this defect, an. oculist said that it, brought 'him..patients worth:thousands - of;dollars of income to him. .The whole science of illumination is deserving of the householder's study. It is safe-to say that not one room in a hundred is properly lighted, not because there is not sufficient light, hut because tho lamps are badly 'placed. , Experiments prove that with a 16 candlepower;, incandescent bulb, while the full-16 candle-power goes to the walls on a level with tne lamp, only 6£ candle-power comes down, to the table. . Now,;' if this bulb ,is frosted,' although, nearly .one-eighth of the light , is absorbed and; lost, the light coming downwards is increased to. 9: candle-power. /; : But if you now put a properly shaped opal reflector over the lamp, the light is concentrated, and you got from 23 to 25 candle-power thrown downwards. But, if the light is wanted .only on the table, the "dome", rcflector will give as much as 29 candle-power from-a 16 candlepower lamp. Hence tho dome is suited '.to the diningroom, the fluted to the room in which a family spends the evening., The grebn opal shado will give 34 candlepower, and is adapted to the desk, but it casts dark streaks if a bare filament is used. By. having a frosted bulb, however, this defect is - avoided. V .The : variety -of reflectors is immense. Prismatic reflectors will give as much as 57-candle-power over a small area from 16 candlo-power lamps, but they are not a good form to • use \in rooms. . The holophane refloefcor, while seeming; to cast' the light. up, roally sends it down, and is artistic. • - But ; most of the* roflectors wo use are wasteful. They, aro chosen more, for appearance, than for the only, proper object of sending, tho light where: it is wanted. ' Thus, many of the upturned bell-shaped .reflectors absorb .a great .part 'of the light, -and- Send most of the remainder to-the upper, regions, :-wljile' tho small down-turned opal shades ,conceritrato'the. ligh't on .too - small aii area. : ' . yWliere economy i& necessary, a good 'plan :tnight 'be to place the lamp .ijn a; holo'pha'no ;reneot6r .clqsß' t6 tho ceiling; for'lighting-the room,;and a couple of brackets;on the walls for reading. 'But it is a mistake to-put.the brackets; at each side of tho fireplace. They shine-in tlio eyes of. those -sitting' around the: ' firej .'causing discomfort! ' ,- In the diningroom an 8 candle-power lightsuffices, provided a proper reflector bo used. With; a domo reflector 14 candle-power of light js shed on the table. 1 :■' The.bedroom.is difficult to light properly, n's' illumination is in so many places. One ; needs a. light' at the head of tho bed for reading, .one in the centre , for. the. room genorally,;; and three at tho-pressing-table, namoly, one. over., tho mirrorr! .for;., hairdressing; and. one, at each side for] shaving. ■ '

• '-The side'lights will not illuminate • tho top of. tho .head,. and -the light over tho mirror alono does : not suffico for shaving,' as" it casts'a shadow .under the'.chin. '

_ But ,by . having one portable electric lamp, lt ciin be made to servo all purposes by hanging it on hooks wherever it is required. ' ' - It is obvious that this matter requires tho '.e3ercite:of intelligence, and that if. wo gave more care; to the illumination of the house wp'shquld;got much better'value for money!