We’ve tried to put them around the room evenly. You can see all three in the right picture (one in the foreground). We’ll report back in a few weeks about how much it helped.
The nice thing about CFLs is that you can put really quite bright ones in small desk lamp housings—because they dissipate a lot less heat. Only problem is physical size of the bulb.
Well, that sucks, since CFLs are only going to increase. There’s a pile of crank sites about CFLs and migraines; closest to non-crank I can find quickly is this Australian government site, which says this from CFLs (as opposed to the older ones that flicker at 50/60Hz) is generally badly set-up lighting.
Your “poorly set-up lighting” is a reference to this:
the primary cause is likely to be glare, highly contrasting, or inappropriate light levels. These problems are a result of poor lighting design rather than a feature of fluorescent lamps and can occur with any lighting technology if used inappropriately. Light fittings that enclose lamps and distribute light evenly without compromising light output and efficiency can help avoid these problems.
Poor set-up is unlikely to be the cause in my case because I did not make any changes except to replace an incandescent bulb (on my desk) that never gave me any problems with a CFL of similar brightness.
I do not dislike all fluorescents. For example, the cold-cathode fluorescent lamps in my monitor and my best friend’s TV give off completely-unproblematic very nice light. (The light from the two LED-backlit devices in my life on the other hand is not nearly as nice.)
Ok, now I’m living lumenously, too. I definitely feel an immediate difference, but the long-term utility and whether or not my ceiling catches on fire remains to be seen.
I immediately like this idea.
Anja and I just went out and bought three 120W lights (for construction sites; we had trouble getting good bulbs).
Here at the Singularity Institute, we take ideas seriously.
We bought three of these.
We’ve tried to put them around the room evenly. You can see all three in the right picture (one in the foreground). We’ll report back in a few weeks about how much it helped.
The nice thing about CFLs is that you can put really quite bright ones in small desk lamp housings—because they dissipate a lot less heat. Only problem is physical size of the bulb.
The CFL I tried tended to give me headaches.
YMMV. Horrible yellow or daylight spectrum?
No yellow tinge. Made by Feit Electric.
Well, that sucks, since CFLs are only going to increase. There’s a pile of crank sites about CFLs and migraines; closest to non-crank I can find quickly is this Australian government site, which says this from CFLs (as opposed to the older ones that flicker at 50/60Hz) is generally badly set-up lighting.
Your “poorly set-up lighting” is a reference to this:
Poor set-up is unlikely to be the cause in my case because I did not make any changes except to replace an incandescent bulb (on my desk) that never gave me any problems with a CFL of similar brightness.
I do not dislike all fluorescents. For example, the cold-cathode fluorescent lamps in my monitor and my best friend’s TV give off completely-unproblematic very nice light. (The light from the two LED-backlit devices in my life on the other hand is not nearly as nice.)
How are you measuring how much it hurts/helps?
Completely non-rigorously. I’ll probably just look at my hours, and reflect on how I feel about its effect.
I’m curious how this worked for you. (The lighting, not particularly the experimental method.)
Unfortunately not enough of an effect for me to claim anything. I do like it brighter though, so I will continue using the lights.
Okay—thanks for the results. :)
Perhaps you could run a simple intelligence/alertness test every day, and then do it for two weeks on normal light, and see the diffence?
It looks as though you’ll soon be needing some diffusers...
I beat you to it
:P
haha You beat me to buying, but I beat you to installing.
You’re living lumenously :)
Ok, now I’m living lumenously, too. I definitely feel an immediate difference, but the long-term utility and whether or not my ceiling catches on fire remains to be seen.
Bwahaha. Alex nails it.