How much light do LED under-cabinet luminaires produce?
Under-cabinet luminaires serve two general functions in the kitchen. First, under-cabinet luminaires can provide a sense of brightness for the homeowner without raising overall ambient light levels. Second, under-cabinet luminaires provide illumination for tasks performed on the counter, such as reading a recipe or chopping food. How much illumination is needed? The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook, 9th Edition (Rea 2000) recommends minimum illumination levels of 300 lux for general tasks and 500 lux for critical tasks such as chopping. However, McGuiness and Boyce (1984) found that an illumination level of 100 lux was sufficient for people to perform all kitchen tasks quickly and to feel satisfied with the light level. The test apparatus, which simulates the geometry of a kitchen countertop and back splash, has black, non-reflective surfaces so as to measure only direct illumination. In an actual kitchen, a small amount of the light shining o
