Re: [GBlist] Regular vs. Fluorescent Lighting

[David Bergman <bergman@cyberg.com>]

Donna Watkins wrote:
>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

Just emphasizing what some others here just wrote: chances are good that 
the fluorescents that irritated your son were using magnetic ballasts. 
These flickered much more noticeably and often buzzed. (The ones in my 
architectural school library in the late 70's buzzed so badly that they had 
to be replaced so we could concentrate.) Electronic ballasts are far 
superior -- the flicker should not be noticeable, even subconsciously -- 
the buzzing is gone, and some newer ones are dimmable.

The comments by others about CRI and color temperature are important. 
Beware, though, the bulbs that claim to be daylight or healthy, etc. The 
data on that are highly questionable.

Do you know when the study you referred to on school children was done? 
I've not heard about it and wonder whether it was with older fluorescents. 
I'd be interested in checking it out.

David Bergman
David Bergman Architect/Fire & Water Lighting + Furniture
bergman@cyberg.com    http://www.cyberg.com
t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291



______________________________________________________________________
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
______________________________________________________________________