Illuminating Excellence: Embracing Candlepower in Landscape Lighting

In the realm of landscape lighting, understanding the nuances of light output is crucial for achieving the desired aesthetic and functional effects. Traditionally, the industry has predominantly focused on lumens as the primary metric for describing light output. However, recent insights from leading lighting designer Janet Lenox Moyer are urging a shift towards a more comprehensive approach that includes candlepower or candelas in product specifications and documentation.

Why Include Candlepower?

Candlepower, or candelas, provides a critical dimension that lumens alone do not capture. While lumens quantify the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source, candlepower measures the intensity of light emitted in a specific direction. This directional intensity is essential in landscape lighting design, where controlling light distribution and minimizing glare are paramount.

For instance, the SL01 luminaire from Sterling Lighting exemplifies this balance effectively. According to our photometric report conducted by ETL, the SL01 luminaire emits 757.281 lumens of total light output, alongside a focused center beam candlepower of 2317.7 candelas. These metrics offer designers precise insights into how effectively light is distributed and controlled, influencing decisions on luminaire placement and lighting scheme design.

Superior Indicator of Light Behavior

Candlepower serves as a superior indicator of what the light is doing as it leaves the luminaire for several reasons:

1. Precision in Directionality: Unlike lumens, which provide a broad measure of total light output, candlepower specifies how intense the light is in a particular direction. This specificity allows designers to accurately predict where and how the light will illuminate a surface or object.

2. Glare Control and Visual Comfort: High levels of lumens without consideration for candlepower can lead to glare issues, diminishing visual comfort and detracting from the intended ambiance. Candlepower helps mitigate this by focusing light where it is needed, reducing spillage and unwanted reflections.

3. Design Flexibility and Effectiveness: Incorporating candlepower into specifications empowers lighting designers to make informed decisions that align with their creative vision and project requirements. It enables the precise positioning of luminaires to achieve optimal lighting effects while ensuring energy efficiency and minimizing light pollution.

Changing the Conversation

By advocating for the inclusion of candlepower alongside lumens in product specifications and documentation, we are championing a more comprehensive approach to lighting design. This shift not only enhances transparency and clarity but also elevates the standards of performance and quality in landscape lighting solutions.

As landscape lighting continues to evolve beyond mere functionality to become an integral part of architectural and environmental design, understanding and embracing candlepower will be instrumental. It represents a commitment to excellence and a deeper understanding of how light impacts our surroundings.

At Sterling Lighting, we are dedicated to leading this conversation and setting new benchmarks in landscape lighting innovation. By providing detailed candlepower data derived from rigorous photometric testing, we empower designers like Janet Lenox Moyer to create environments that are not just illuminated, but truly transformed.

Together, let’s illuminate the path forward with candlepower—where precision meets performance, and every landscape lighting project is a testament to beauty, functionality, and sustainability.

Additional Reading

CLICK HERE to read an interview with Janet Lennox Moyer talking more about candlepower and low voltage lighting. 

CLICK HERE to buy Janet Lennox Moyer's book