LRV measures which of the following?

• A. The energy efficiency
• B. The percentage of light reflected by a surface
• C. The color temperature
• D. The roughness of a surface

Answer: (B)

LRV measures the portion of light that a surface reflects when illuminated, expressed as a percentage. This means higher LRV surfaces reflect more incoming light, making spaces look brighter and often reducing the need for artificial lighting. A white wall typically has a high LRV, while a dark floor has a low LRV. The option describing the percentage of light reflected by a surface is the best match. LRV is not a direct measure of energy efficiency, which depends on many factors beyond reflectance. It also doesn’t measure color temperature, which relates to the color of the light source, nor surface roughness, which concerns texture. In practice, LRV helps predict luminance, glare, and overall visual comfort in a space.