Full Spectrum Lighting

The merits of full-spectrum light  are highly debated. Many swear by full-spectrum and the health benefits it is purported to provide, and many others insist that all of the benefits are a placebo-like effect caused by brilliant marketing. What is true about full-spectrum light is the lack of industry standards or specifications as to what it is, so that incandescent light, fluorescent, UV ray emitting lights, and non-UV lights can fall within the full-spectrum, well, spectrum.

Full Spectrum Lighting
Features Claimed by Full-Spectrum Manufacturers: Simulates the spectrum of natural light Spectrum of natural light varies through out the day, but these lights do not vary as the daylight does Improves visibility Improves health, productivity, and SAD conditions Makes spaces appear brighter and have a daylight-like feel	Some of the Realities of Full-Spectrum Lighting: No scientific evidence of health benefits Expensive and produces less lumens per watt than other light sources Lumens: rate at which lamp produces light Excellent CRI (color rendering index) rank, which means colors appear natural Does not enhance visual performance Visual performance: speed and accuracy of processing achromatic information

What full-spectrum light claims to do sounds great, but with the steep increase in price for a light that has an almost identical spectral power distribution as incandescent and fluorescent light, it will behoove you to investigate these claims further.

More information on full-spectrum light resources can be found at these addresses:

NLPIP

Topbulb.com

More Lighting Options:

Light Bulbs