This is really exciting news for me since I find it hard to get anything done in Winter when the light is much more blue than the beautiful Summer sun. In Vancouver it is often overcast and much too grey outside for it to be very bright indoors. I haven't seen a full spectrum bulb in fluorescent before!

I have compact fluorescent lights (CFL) throughout my place but in the office area I need to have a "Full Spectrum" bulb to make it feel like sunlight is filtering in. This also keeps me from getting too depressed in Winter.

From Hippyshopper: If the dreary so-called summer is getting you down try LifeLite’s full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs. These light bulbs have both environmental and health benefits. Full spectrum light can allegedly help with Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D), eye sight, concentration in schoolchildren, cholesterol and overall wellbeing. The bulbs have a spectrum profile which resembles sunlight more closely than ordinary light bulbs.

For centuries people have been exposed to sunlight, until the mid 19th century when people began to spend more time indoors, exposed to artificial sunlight. Prof. Dr. Fritz Hollwich, Director of the University Eye Hospital in Münster, discovered that only a quarter of the light absorbed into our eyes is used for vision. The other three-quarters makes its way to the brain and hypothalamus – the main control centre of the body, that is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, regulating our nervous and endocrine systems, among many other things.

The right dose of UV-A and UV-B light is essential to our health and wellbeing, stimulating our energy levels and balancing our immune system, metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, as well as providing us with vitamin D, supporting the formation of bones.

LifeLite’s full spectrum bulbs, like sunlight and unlike standard light bulbs, contain the full colour spectrum of the rainbow – both the visible and invisible components. They also have the additional benefits of using up 75% less electricity than a standard light bulb and lasting ten times longer.

Here is some more information:

General questions

Question: Is full spectrum light also good for animals, pets and houseplants?
Answer: Yes, there are numerous books that document the positive effects of full spectrum light on plants and animals.

Question: Do you get a tan from full spectrum light?
Answer: No, the amount of UV associated with the luminous intensity of full spectrum lamps is too low to cause the skin to tan, and consequently it also does not cause sunburn.

Question: Can I dispose of the LifeLite full spectrum energy saving bulbs and tubes in the usual way with my household rubbish?
Answer: Like all energy saving light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, LifeLite energy saving light bulbs and fluorescent tubes must also be disposed of properly in hazardous waste.

Technical questions

Question: What is full spectrum light?
Answer: Like sunlight, full spectrum light contains the full colour spectrum of the rainbow – both those components which are visible to us and those which are invisible. At the same time it is important that it contains the visible colours in relatively equal proportions and that the spectral progression is continual (i.e. that there are no gaps in the spectrum).
>see Spectral analysis
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA has laid down the following criteria for full spectrum light, cf. Dr. Jacob Liberman, "Light – Medicine of the Future", page 209:
Colour temperature 5,500 – 6,500 degrees Kelvin.
Colour rendering (Ra/CRI) greater than 90.

Question: How exactly is the spectrum of full spectrum light made up?
Answer: The spectrum of LifeLite light bulbs goes from 300 to 800 nanometres. This range is made up as follows:
300 – 320 nm UV-B
320 – 380 nm UV-A
380 – 420 nm violet
420 – 490 nm blue
490 – 575 nm green
575 – 585 nm yellow
585 – 650 nm orange
650 – 750 nm red
750 – 800 nm infrared

Question: What savings in energy costs will I be able to enjoy if I use LifeLite full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs instead of normal bulbs?
Answer: You will use 75 per cent less electricity than with a normal light bulb. Additionally, LifeLite bulbs last about ten times as long as normal light bulbs.

Question: What lamp fittings are suitable for LifeLite full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs?
Answer: LifeLite full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs are available for E27 (standard European screw fitting), E26 (North American screw fitting), E14 (small screw fitting for candle bulbs) and B22 (bayonet fitting, mainly found in Great Britain). We also make fluorescent tubes.

Question: In which wattages are the LifeLite full spectrum daylight light bulbs available?
Answer: LifeLite full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs are available in the following wattages:
9W – E14 candle – as bright as a normal 25W bulb
11W – E14 candle - as bright as a normal 40W bulb
11W – E14 spiral - as bright as a normal 40W bulb
15W – E27 spiral - as bright as a normal 60W bulb
20W – E27 spiral - as bright as a normal 75W bulb
23W – E27 spiral - as bright as a normal 100W bulb
26W – E27 spiral - as bright as a normal 120W bulb
32W – E27 spiral - as bright as a normal 130W bulb
40W – E27 spiral - as bright as a normal 160W bulb

Question: Are LifeLite full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs dimmable?
Answer: No, they are not dimmable.

Question: At what room temperatures can I use LifeLite light bulbs?
Answer: LifeLite light bulbs can be used at room temperatures from -15 to +50 degrees Celsius.

Question: What colour is the light from LifeLite full spectrum daylight light bulbs?
Answer: LifeLite full spectrum daylight light bulbs have a colour temperature of 6,000 degrees Kelvin. That means that the light is white, like the midday sun.

Question: Can LifeLite full spectrum daylight energy saving light bulbs be used in all types of light shade?
Answer: Completely enclosed light shades should be avoided because the bulb becomes hot and this can shorten the life of the bulb. In general it is sensible to choose a lampshade of a neutral colour as the effect of full spectrum light is mainly achieved through the colour of the light source.

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