Time and time again, studies (such as this piece published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2004) have shown that exposure to natural light affects your vitamin D and immune system, serotonin and melatonin levels, as well as your circadian rhythms, sleep cycle and hormones. In fact, scientists at the UNC School of Medicine recently published a study in which they pinpointed the key connection between light signals and circadian rhythms. The study is anticipated to give insight on how light influences molecular signals in our bodies to affect a broad array of biological processes ranging from the sleep-wake cycle to cancer growth and development. In addition to the aforementioned studies, the lack of proper lighting can lead to issues such as depression (S.A.D.), immune problems, and your susceptibility to life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cancer are exacerbated - particularly as related to Vitamin D absorption. Researchers from the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego have found that 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancers could be prevented each year worldwide, if vitamin D3 levels were increased. Only within the last couple years have we seen the building industry begin to embrace green lighting that's not only cost and energy-efficient, but also concerned with issues related to human health. However, with heightened awareness, today's consumers are increasingly able to tailor various lighting options to meet their individual needs.
Change Your Bulbs
Despite all the support of many green enthusiasts, the road to the CFL switch has been a rough one. While compact fluorescent bulbs are considerably more energy-efficient than incandescents (they save at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb), many individuals continue to dislike the quality of light given off by these bulbs. Add to that the fact that most compact fluorescents have the toxic chemical mercury in them, and you can see why many people are resistant to switching their bulbs. Luckily, in just the last year, the field of energy-efficient lighting has produced a whole new breed of super energy-efficient LED bulbs that have no mercury and better mimic the quality of light we are accustomed to with incandescents. LEDs are gaining speed in the world of interior lighting, with new iterations consistently outperforming the ones that preceded them. Just this year alone, we've seen the release of square LED alternatives to the round bulb, companies switching off incandescent bulb production in favor of LEDs, and most recently the release of LED replacements for the common bulb in local stores. Unlike CFLs, LEDs can be filtered without a dramatic loss in output, meaning that achieving ambient lighting isn't an issue. For example, Philip's A19 AmbientLED delivers the same illumination as a 60 watt white light incandescent, at a mere 12.5 watts -- and like incandescents, they can also be dimmed and fit into just about any lighting fixture. The new LED bulb also boasts a life of 25,000 hours. And if we're talking cash, a single bulb can shave hundreds of dollars off your electricity bill. The reality is, if every state in the US were to switch to these LEDs we would save 32.6 terawatt-hours of electricity each year — enough energy to power 17 million homes. LEDs are very much the future of lighting.
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