Workshop and garage lighting
Workshops and garages are functional spaces that require a reasonable level of general, diffused illumination on the workbench, floor and walls. This type of lighting is often best provided by fluorescent tubes with diffusers (covers that diffuse the light), spaced between the cars and over with the workbench. Fluorescent is very efficient, has good colour properties and is available in a range of colour temperatures.
Task based and general garage lighting
In this space we recommend cooler colour temperature bulbs that give a bluer toned light. These are often described as “cool daylight” and the colour temperature on the package will read “4000K” referring to the Kelvin temperature.
Either CFL or fluorescent tubes are appropriate depending on your fittings – as both come in colour temperatures that are great for task lighting. If your garage joins your house and you want to match the effect, you could try warmer colour temperature sometimes identified as “warm daylight” (look for “3000K” on the packaging) as these bulbs provide a warmer more yellow light that is closer to the light of traditional incandescent bulbs.
Workshop/garage task based and general lighting |
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| Old bulb | Replacement | Comment |
| Standard incandescent 100W bulb in simple light fitting or batten holder | 23W bulb-shaped CFL (either 2700K or 3000K) | Batten holders are the standard fixture you screw a light bulb into |
| 58W T8 fluorescent tube with conventional ballast | Higher efficiency Electronic Ballasts for 58W T8 fluorescent | Check the wattage, the fitting and the functionality match your needs. |
| 36W T8 fluorescent tube with conventional ballast | Higher efficiency Electronic Ballasts for 36W T8 fluorescent | Check the wattage, the fitting and the functionality match your needs. |
While lower wattage fluorescent tubes may be available, these are not more efficient or suitable for direct replacement of the existing tubes unless the light output is the same or higher for a lower electricity usage. For example, 51W and 32W T8 tubes are no more efficient than the 58W and 36W T8 tubes they replace as the light output for the 51W and 32W tubes is lower.
Before you buy anything, check the replacement tubes are suitable for the jobs you want to do. Some efficient tubes may be temperature sensitive and only run effectively if the fitting is indoors and the tube is enclosed within a diffuser. Also, check the colour temperature – warm or cool - matches your requirements. This information can be found on the packaging.
Efficiencies can often be gained by converting conventional ballasts in the light fitting to electronic ballasts and the use of T8 tubes (or T5 HO tubes). Note that converting an existing fitting from T8 to T5 tubes should only be undertaken by a suitably qualified professional and expert advice is recommended when selecting and installing the correct equipment for this purpose. For further information on retrofitting fluorescent luminaires to improve energy performance, talk to your lighting specialist or electrician.