Energy Saving Light Bulbs and Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)

Energy Saving Light Bulbs and Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)

Governments of countries that mandate requirements that their citizens must purchase Compact Flourescent Lamps (CFLs) for indoor lighting use does not take into account that this has serious negative ramifications for those individuals who suffer the affliction of Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), a condition that affects a person mentally, emotionally, physiologically and physically.

Wikipedia has an article about CFLs - energy saving light bulbs which I am referring to that explains these devices:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp


Although these light bulbs save energy, which reduces the cost of indoor lighting, CFLs emit significantly less lumens of light, which is what people that suffer from S.A.D. require.  And CFLs are not offered for purchase in high enough lumens to satisfy the medical requirements of S.A.D. sufferers.

Incandescent lamps - the older style of light bulbs commonly in use, offer bulbs with much higher amounts of lumens they emit.  They offer consumers a wider variety and therefore, S.A.D. sufferers are able to help reduce the effects of dim indoor lighting by their purchase of high lumen incandescent light bulbs.

A year ago, after the mandate in the U.S. had passed requiring consumers to use CFL light bulbs, I purchased the highest lumen CFL light bulbs I could find on the market that would work with my indoor light fixtures.  I replaced every light bulb in my house with these high lumen CFLs, with the exception of the light bulbs above my stove and inside my refrigerator, as those light bulbs have special requirements to protect against heat and cold temperatures.

When one flicks on a CFL light, it does not immediately illuminate to it's highest lumen capability.  It takes a minute or two to warm up and emit it's designed lumen output.

I find that CFLs emit a yellowish tone of light, which are not good to read by.
I do not see clearly with CFL lighting.  Rooms seem too dark to me and I struggle with this in others homes, in motel rooms, etc.
The bulbs do not emit clear light.  It seems cloudy and obscured to me.
The bulbs do not seem to bring out the full spectrum of colors of the environment.

I have twelve CFL bulbs illuminating my home.  In addition, I have two light therapy full-spectrum lamps I use to treat S.A.D. at home, and also have a light therapy lamp at work I use, which were recommended by my physician.

I purchased name major brand CFLs for my home to try them out -- to see if the highest lumen CFL light bulbs would suffice for indoor lighting for someone like me who suffers from S.A.D.  I thought it would help the manager in their utility costs also, but this was not required of me as a tenant.
The result is that I do not find CFLs sufficient for indoor lighting of those who suffer from S.A.D.

The Wikipedia article (link above) mentions that CFLs produce less light later in their lives than when they are new.
With my bulbs now a year old, I wonder if they are emitting less light.

CFLs may cause skin and retinal damage, according to the Wikipedia article.

And for older people with aging vision, dim indoor lighting can pose a safety hazard to them where they could trip and fall, and makes it harder in general for them to see clearly.

The article says that Australia, Canada and the United States have announced plans for nationwide efficiency standards that would constitute an effective ban on most current incandescent bulbs, and that Venezuela and Cuba have launched massive incandescent light bulbs replacement programs in order to save energy. 

Further, in an article entitled "The Dark Side of Energy Saving Light Bulbs":

http://tribune.com.pk/story/467607/the-dark-side-of-energy-saving-light-bulbs

states that:

"According to Wynn-Jones, some fluorescent bulbs can cause depletion of key neuro-chemicals in humans, such as serotonin and melatonin. Newer research validates this claim while also showing that exposure to the ‘cool daylight’ type will also serve to increase heart rate and body temperature. This has 2 effects:

• Constant exposure to CFLs, particularly at the expense of sunlight, can precipitate a type of depression known as ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’, commonly referred to as ‘winter blues’

• It can completely halt and even reverse the physiological changes that are responsible for inducing sleep, instead giving your body what a study in the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel identifies as comparable to a dose of caffeine.

Thus, bulbs are legally banned in hospitals in Germany."

This Dark Side article also states:

"
Other research of interest:

• Under fluorescent lighting, one’s evaluation of the immediate space has been demonstrated to ‘evoke a negative response pattern.’ Ask someone to rate a work of art underneath sunlight, and then do the same under artificial lighting, particularly ‘cool daylight.’ The response is dismal and this doesn’t exclude interpersonal evaluations!

• The nutritional quality of foods, such as olive oil, has been shown to deteriorate significantly when stored underneath fluorescent lighting.

• Visual discomfort is greatly increased and there is preliminary evidence to indicate that the inherent flicker in fluorescent lighting can be a causal factor for people who read extensively underneath artificial lighting to develop early cases of ‘presbyopia’ or ‘farsightedness.’"