The Advantages of Full Spectrum Lighting

Lighting manufacturers make many claims about the health benefits to humans from full spectrum lighting. The Lighting Research Center at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute published a report in September 2003 that addresses some of the most common claims. The report covers claims by lighting manufactures that use of full spectrum lighting results in better vision, greater overall health and a more positive psychological attitude.

Vision

In its report, the Lighting Research Center found that there are some valid points to the claim that full spectrum lighting can affect a person's vision. Full spectrum lighting cannot increase the speed or accuracy with which a person perceives visual information. Instead, full spectrum lighting allows the eye to perceive a deeper saturation of color and brighter whites. The increased perception makes a room with full spectrum lighting appear to be brighter than it would with regular incandescent lighting.

Overall Health

There have been claims that full spectrum lighting can affect the overall health of humans in the same way that natural light does. Research has shown that these claims are not true. Humans are influenced by the day/night solar cycle in a variety of ways, most notably the wake/sleep cycle. This cycle is regulated by the blue, or short wave length, of light. Since the cycle doesn't require a full spectrum, the introduction of full spectrum lighting has no greater benefit to overall health than regular incandescent lighting.

Psychological

A recognized psychological disorder is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This disorder is treated with light therapy but not necessarily with full spectrum light. The treatment of SAD usually involves a daily exposure to extremely bright white light for 30 minutes. Other psychological benefits associated with full spectrum lighting are difficult to prove or disprove. Since full spectrum lighting will make a room appear to be brighter than incandescent lighting would, it may have a positive affect on the overall mood of the people in that room.

Other Benefits

Full spectrum lighting is considered a must-have for pet bird owners since many birds rely on natural sunlight to produce vitamin D. Many brands of full spectrum bulbs on the market are designed specifically for birds. These bulbs produce ultraviolet light in the UVA and UVB spectrum and are usually much more expensive than a standard full spectrum bulb. Avid gardeners can also use full spectrum lighting to produce vegetation indoors. Though, on a large scale, there are other ways to produce the necessary wave lengths of light with less expensive florescent bulbs.