Efficient fluorescent lighting system

Abstract

An improved efficiency fluorescent lighting system is described. The system utilizes reduced rows of fluorescent luminaires which are spaced much further apart than traditional spacing. The luminaires used in the system of the present invention have increased light output of each luminaire by up to fifty percent through a combination of use of a high efficiency lamp producing about 3250 lumens, an electronic dimming ballast having a ballast factor of about 1.2 and a luminaire having a spacing to mounting height ratio of at least 1.5.

1. An improved efficiency fluorescent lighting system having a plurality of luminaires located a first predetermined distance from a surface to be illuminated and spaced apart a second predetermined horizontal spacing distance, each of said luminaries in said system comprising:
 a high efficiency fluorescent lamp retained within said luminaire, said luminaire having a spacing to mounting height ratio, said spacing to mounting height ratio defined by the ratio of the horizontal spacing distance to the vertical mounting height of two adjacent luminaires, of about 1.6;    a dimming ballast having a ballast factor of greater than 1.15.    
     
     
       2. The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said lamp in each of said luminaries is a T8 lamp four feet in length producing about 3250 initial lumens. 
     
     
       3. The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said first predetermined distance is twelve feet. 
     
     
       4. The lighting system of  claim 3  wherein said second predetermined distance is about eighteen feet. 
     
     
       5. The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said ballast in each of said luminaires is a rapid start dimming ballast. 
     
     
       6. The lighting system of  claim 5  wherein said ballast is an electronic ballast. 
     
     
       7. The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said system exhibits an efficacy in excess of 90 lumens per watt supplied to said system. 
     
     
       8. The lighting system of  claim 2  wherein said lamp in each of said luminaires produces about 3040 lumens. 
     
     
       9. A plurality of improved efficiency luminaires for use in a fluorescent lighting system, comprising:
 in each luminaire, a lamp electronically connected to a ballast, said lamp and ballast housed within said improved efficiency luminaire, said lamp being a high efficiency fluorescent lamp producing 3250 lumens, said ballast being an electronic dimming ballast having a ballast factor of between 1.16 and 1.2, said luminaires having a spacing to mounting height ratio of at least 1.5, said spacing to mounting height ratio defined by the ratio of the horizontal spacing to the vertical mounting height of two adjacent luminaires.    
     
     
       10. The luminaire of  claim 9  wherein said fluorescent lighting system utilizes a plurality of said lamps, each of said lamps positioned in rows approximately eighteen feet apart, each of said lamps mounted at a mounting height of about twelve feet. 
     
     
       11. A method of implementation for a high efficiency fluorescent lighting system in combination with supplemental skylighting, comprising:
 installing a plurality of fluorescent light fixtures in a plurality of rows, each of said rows separated by a predetermined separation distance;    mounting said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures above the ground a predetermined mounting height;    dimming said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures;    wherein each of said fixtures has a spacing to mounting height ratio of about 1.4 and a ballast factor of above 1.15, said spacing to mounting height ratio defined by the ratio of the horizontal spacing to the vertical mounting height of adjacent luminaries.    
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein said predetermined mounting height is above twelve feet. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein said predetermined separation distance is about 18 feet or more. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein each of said fixtures is fitted with a high efficiency fluorescent lamp producing at least 3200 lumens. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising running said lamps for each of said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures at 32 watts or more. 
     
     
       16. A fluorescent lighting system having a plurality of fluorescent fixtures, comprising:
 in each luminaire a lamp electronically connected to a ballast, said lamp and ballast housed within said fixture, said lamp being a fluorescent lamp producing about 3250 lumens, said ballast being an electronic ballast having a ballast factor of between 1.16 and 1.2;    wherein adjacent fluorescent fixtures of said lighting system have a spacing to mounting height ratio of at least 1.5, said spacing to mounting height ratio defined by the ratio of the horizontal spacing to the vertical mounting height of two adjacent luminaires.    
     
     
       17. A method of high efficiency fluorescent lighting, comprising:
 installing a plurality of fluorescent light fixtures in a plurality of rows, each of said rows separated by at least 18 feet;    mounting said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures above the ground at greater than 12 feet, wherein adjacent fixtures have a spacing to mounting height ratio of at least 1.5, said spacing to mounting height ratio defined by the ratio of the horizontal spacing to the vertical mounting height of two adjacent luminaires;    running each of said fluorescent light fixtures at 32 watts and producing about 3250 lumens; wherein said fixtures have a ballast factor of about 1.2.    
     
     
       18. An improved efficiency fluorescent lighting system having a plurality of luminaires located a first predetermined distance from a surface to be illuminated and spaced apart a second predetermined horizontal spacing distance, each of said luminaires in said system comprising:
   at least one high efficiency fluorescent lamp retained within said luminaire, said luminaire having a spacing to mounting height ratio of above  1 . 4 ; wherein said spacing to mounting height ratio is further defined as the spacing between two luminaires such that the illumination on the floor midway between the two luminaires is equal to the illumination from one luminaire at nadir; and,        an electronic ballast having a ballast factor of at least  1 . 15 .     
     
     
       19. The lighting system of  claim 18  wherein said at least one lamp in each of said luminaire is a lamp four feet in length producing greater than about  3040  lumens. 
     
     
       20. The lighting system of  claim 18  wherein said first predetermined distance is greater than about  12  feet. 
     
     
       21. The lighting system of  claim 19  wherein said second predetermined distance is about eighteen feet. 
     
     
       22. The lighting system of  claim 18  wherein said ballast in each of said luminaires is a rapid start ballast. 
     
     
       23. The lighting system of  claim 21  wherein said ballast is a dimming ballast. 
     
     
       24. The lighting system of  claim 18  wherein said system exhibits an efficacy in excess of about  90  lumens per watt supplied to said system. 
     
     
       25. A plurality of improved efficiency luminaires for use in a fluorescent lighting system, comprising:
   in each luminaire, a lamp electronically connected to a ballast, said lamp and ballast housed within said improved efficiency luminaire, said lamp being a high efficiency fluorescent lamp producing greater than about  3040  lumens, said ballast being an electronic ballast having a ballast factor of greater than about  1 . 15 , said luminaires having a spacing to mounting height ratio of at least about  1 . 5 ;        wherein said spacing to mounting height ratio is further defined as spacing between two luminaires such that the illumination on the floor midway between the two luminaires is equal to the illumination from one luminaire at nadir.     
     
     
       26. The luminaire of  claim 25  wherein said fluorescent lighting system utilizes a plurality of said lamps, each of said lamps mounted at a mounting height of about twelve feet. 
     
     
       27. A method of implementation for a high efficiency fluorescent lighting system comprising:
   installing a plurality of fluorescent light fixtures in a plurality of rows, each of said rows separated by a predetermined separation distance;        mounting said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures above the ground a predetermined mounting height; and,        wherein each of said fixtures has a spacing to mounting height ratio of above about  1 . 4  and a ballast factor of above about  1 . 15 , said spacing to mounting height ratio defined as a the spacing between two luminaires such that the illumination on the floor midway between the two luminaires is equal to the illumination from one luminaire at nadir.     
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  wherein said predetermined mounting height is above about twelve feet. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27  wherein each of said fixtures is fitted with a high efficiency fluorescent lamp producing at least  3200  lumens. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28  further comprising running said ballasts for each of said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures at  32  input watts or more. 
     
     
       31. A fluorescent lighting system having a plurality of fluorescent fixtures comprising:
   in each luminaire, a lamp electronically connected to a ballast, said lamp and ballast housed within said fixture, said lamp being a fluorescent lamp producing about  3250  lumens, said ballast being an electronic ballast having a ballast factor of above about  1 . 15 ; and,        wherein adjacent fluorescent fixtures of said lighting system having a spacing to mounting height ratio of above  1 . 4 , said spacing to mounting height ratio defined as the spacing between two luminaires such that the illumination on the floor midway between the two luminaires is equal to the illumination from one luminaire at nadir.     
     
     
       32. A method of high efficiency fluorescent lighting, comprising:
   installing a plurality of fluorescent light fixtures in a plurality of rows, each of said rows separated by between about  18  feet;        mounting said plurality of fluorescent light fixtures above the ground at greater than about  12  feet, wherein adjacent fixtures having a spacing to mounting height ratio of at least about  1 . 5 , said spacing to mounting height ratio defined as the spacing between two luminaires such that the illumination on the floor midway between the two luminaires is equal to the illumination from one luminaire at nadir;        running each of said fluorescent light fixtures at about  32  watts or more and producing above about  3100  lumens; and,        wherein said fixtures have a ballast factor of above about  1 . 15 .