The Best Track or Recessed Lighting for Finished Homes

About Recessed Lighting

• Recessed lights are installed into a hollow opening in a ceiling. Once installed, the lamp of the recessed light can be moved and positioned in a way that provides lighting to the desired location. Recessed lights consist of three basic parts: the trim, the housing and the lamp. These lighting components are generally interchangeable between various lighting manufactures to allow for greater versatility. Trims are produced in numerous varieties such as: trim reflectors, sloped ceiling reflector trims, diffusers, adjustables, directionals and baffles. Trim reflectors enhance light production. Sloped ceiling reflector trims and diffusers give additional options. Adjustables and directionals offer a diverse range of lighting styles. Baffles decrease glare and brightness.

Choosing Recessed Lighting

• Recessed lights can be utilized for a multitude of lighting functions. Selecting the best lights depends primarily on what the lighting will be used for. Recessed lighting can create complete downlighting throughout a room. According to BestHomeSystems.com, "Lighting used for a display can be located directly above or slightly in front of the item being displayed. This type of lighting can be accomplished using recessed housings or track lighting. Track lighting is a good choice when many lights are needed in a small area."

Recessed Lighting Features

• Dimmer switches and control systems allow for optimal lighting control. Without these features, the recessed lights may not be energy-efficient or flexible in design. A dimmer switch helps to make the bulbs last longer and can allow adjustment of the lamps to provide pleasant lighting conditions. Lighting control systems can set various lighting schemes depending on the room or time of day. For instance, a family room may be divided into different sections depending on the function. There can be an area for sitting which has constant overhead lighting. A movie area can be set with a dimmer to soften and turn off lights for movie viewing. Photos and artwork framed on the walls of the family room can be highlighted with recessed or track lighting specially arranged to shine only upon those walls.

Halogen Recessed Lights

• Halogen lighting is a variant of incandescent lighting. Incandescent light is an electrical light source which operates by incandescence---the emission of light through the heating of the filament. Halogen gas is contained inside of the light to improve both the light output and lamp life. According to Bulbs.com, "They are known for moderately high efficiency, quality of light, and high rated life compared to regular incandescent lamps." ClearVision Virtual Daylight recommends halogen lights as the best type of recessed lighting. ClearVision maintains that halogen lighting provides the best light quality, a good range of suppliers, multiple beam angles and efficiency when quality equipment is used. Additionally, lifetime costs of halogen lighting may be decreased with proper application.

Compact Fluorescent Recessed Lights

• Popular Mechanics studies show that participants preferred compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) over traditional incandescent lighting. CFLS are described as a diffuse lighting source. They give off light which glows in every direction. Compact fluorescent lights are suited for wide beam and non directional fittings. CLFs are not suited to small fittings because they do not compress easily into them. Studies conducted by Popular Mechanics reveal that energy-saving CLFs greatly outperform incandescent lights. As maintained by PopularMechanics.com, "They can use less than one-third the electricity of incandescent bulbs of equivalent brightness and last up to nine years. The new bulbs are smaller and far cheaper (about $5 each) than their predecessors, and more powerful than ever. Top-end 24-watt bulbs promise brightness equivalent to that of a 150-watt incandescent."