RE: [GBlist] Regular vs. Fluorescent Lighting

["Jeremy Fretts" <jeremyf@architectural-alliance.com>]

I'm only beginning to understand the wide variety of lighting choices,
but I'll speak from what I do know...

1)Philips makes a product called "Alto" which uses less mercury and is
easier to recycle/dispose of. It even comes with green-colored endcaps.
I think GE makes a comparable product.

2)CRI (Color Rendering Index) and color temperature (degrees K) make a
HUGE difference! CRI refers to how accurately colors are portrayed.  A
low CRI makes everything look dull and grey. Color temperature refers to
"cool" or "warm" tones.

The off-the-shelf el-cheapo fluorescent lamp (bulb) has a CRI of around
60. A good lamp - readily available if you look closely - can be as high
as 85 or 90 (on a scale of 100, with 100 being 'perfect' color
rendering)  You can also get full spectrum "daylight" bulbs which have a
high CRI.  (Sylvania "Sunstick" for example, available at Lowe's )

Color temperature goes from "warm" (3000 K) to "cool" (4500K) to
"daylight" (6500K).  From my recent research through product catalogs
you can get nearly any "color" with a good color rendering index!  Warm
tones are good for skin and food - hence the reason you might see them
marketed as "bath and kitchen bulbs" -- they make people and food look
healthy!  That's also why some grocery stores use different lighting
over the produce section.

Lowe's and Home Depot both stock better-than-average bulbs, and even the
"daylight" kind IF YOU LOOK FOR THEM.
Just know what you're looking for, and fluorescents can be much better
than the "typical" installation you are accustomed to experiencing.

Hope this helps,

Jeremy Fretts
Architectural Alliance, Inc.
Indianapolis

-----Original Message-----
From: Donna Watkins [mailto:donna@theherbsplace.com] 
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 2:53 PM
To: greenbuilding@crest.org
Subject: [GBlist] Regular vs. Fluorescent Lighting


I've always avoided fluorescents because of the research [with school
children] of it agitating the nervous system.  Obviously the energy
choice goes against this.  We are building a new home and I'm wondering
if we should use fluorescents anywhere.  Does anybody have any comments
on this? Our son was bothered by the fluorescent lighting which is why
we avoided it when we built last time.  He's grown and gone, but if it
affected him it must have some impact on us also?

Thanks!
Donna
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______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________