Data

Efficiency of lighting in the United Kingdom

About this data

Source

Fouquet and Pearson (2006) – processed by Our World in Data

Last updated

October 1, 2017

Date range

1700–2000

Unit

lumen-hours per kilowatt-hour

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

Fouquet and Pearson – Seven Centuries of Energy Services - The Price and Use of Light in the United Kingdom (1300-2000)

Data was calculated by OWID based on published figures by Fouquet and Pearson (2006). Calculated as the weighted-average efficiency of lighting in the United Kingdom. Calculated based on percentage share and efficiency data of lighting sources from Fouquet and Pearson (2006). Data represents the national average efficiency, calculated as the sum of (% share * efficiency) of each source.

For example: (share of lighting from candles * efficiency of candles) + (share of lighting from whale oil * efficiency of whale oil) + (share of lighting from kerosene * efficiency of kerosene).

Efficiency is measured in lumen-hours per kilowatt-hour.

Retrieved on

October 3, 2017

Retrieved from

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/50460/

Citation

This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.

Fouquet, R and Pearson, P J G (2006): "Seven Centuries of Energy Services: The Price and Use of Light in the United Kingdom (1300-2000)", The Energy Journal, 27(1).

For example: (share of lighting from candles * efficiency of candles) + (share of lighting from whale oil * efficiency of whale oil) + (share of lighting from kerosene * efficiency of kerosene).

Efficiency is measured in lumen-hours per kilowatt-hour.

Retrieved on

October 3, 2017

Retrieved from

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/50460/

Citation

Fouquet, R and Pearson, P J G (2006): "Seven Centuries of Energy Services: The Price and Use of Light in the United Kingdom (1300-2000)", The Energy Journal, 27(1).

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Citations

How to cite this page

To cite this page overall, including any descriptions, FAQs or explanations of the data authored by Our World in Data, please use the following citation:

“Data Page: Efficiency of lighting in the United Kingdom”. Our World in Data (2026). Data adapted from Fouquet and Pearson. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260511-092124/grapher/efficiency-of-lighting-in-the-united-kingdom-lumen-hours-per-kilowatt-hour.html [online resource] (archived on May 11, 2026).

How to cite this data

In-line citationIf you have limited space (e.g. in data visualizations), you can use this abbreviated in-line citation:

Fouquet and Pearson (2006) – processed by Our World in Data

Full citation

Fouquet and Pearson (2006) – processed by Our World in Data. “Efficiency of lighting in the United Kingdom” [dataset]. Fouquet and Pearson, “Seven Centuries of Energy Services - The Price and Use of Light in the United Kingdom (1300-2000)” [original data]. Retrieved May 11, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260511-092124/grapher/efficiency-of-lighting-in-the-united-kingdom-lumen-hours-per-kilowatt-hour.html (archived on May 11, 2026).

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