Fluorescent lights are a common source of light for office buildings to shopping malls to grocery stores. The advent of the fluorescent light bulb allowed humans to extend the day into the night. They are cheap to buy and last 13 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They are certainly the most economical choice, but if abused can cause more than just an eyesore and a painful glare.
Most Artificial Lighting Sucks
It is believed that human beings are children of the sun. With the creation of light bulbs we have been able to extend day into night. Historically, most light came from the sun or a flame which allowed men and women to work into the night. The sun gives us a full spectrum of light, spanning the entirety of the visual spectrum. Throughout the years, artificial lighting solutions have been developed with the goal of imitating the full spectrum of natural light. Incandescent , fluorescent and LED bulbs all have there strengths and weaknesses. The incandescent gives off the most heat, but less light. LED’s give off the least amount of heat, but are too bright for most indoor spaces. Fluorescent lighting falls in between, but has it’s own assortment of harmful side effects:
- UV radiation
- Glare
- Artificial “cool” color rendering
The human body is based on the night-day cycle known as the circadian rhythm. If one does not get sufficient exposure to sunlight, the circadian rhythm will be negatively affected. This can lead to migraines, eye strain, problems sleeping due to melatonin suppression, symptoms of seasonal effective disorder or depression, endocrine disruption, poor immune system and a female hormonal/menstrual cycle disruption.
The Solution
There are full spectrum fluorescent light bulbs available in the market. These emit better color temperature than regular fluorescent lights but alas they cannot replace sunlight. Placing full spectrum light filters over existing fluorescent bulbs or light fixture parts (diffusers) can alter the light coming out of the bulb and give a more even distribution combating the ultraviolet rays that may cause skin problems.
Call Diffuser Specialist and see what we can do to help improve your lighting needs. We can’t bring the sun indoors but we can ensure that your fluorescent lights aren’t causing the harmful side effects to your health. Learn more about how our diffusers can help emit better, more evenly distributed light in your home or office.
Better Lighting Diffuser Products Are Here
