Natural Spectrum Light

Five Fast Facts About Natural Spectrum Light

Natural spectrum light is a popular topic in lighting these days.  The best explanation of it is that it is an electric lighting source that simulates natural daylight.  Following are ten facts about this type of light.

1.  Another name for natural spectrum is full spectrum light.  (This is not to be confused with Fullspectrum, an ongoing scientific project of the European commission which aims to find better forms of solar energy.)  The reason for this is that real natural light presents a full spectrum of colors, while ordinary light bulbs miss some of the range.  People who try full spectrum lamps are instantly surprised at how vivid and clear colors look for this reason. 

2.  Light that simulates the natural spectrum is frequently used in light therapy, also known as phototherapy.  This treatment is prescribed for a number of ailments but perhaps the best known is seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.  SAD is a mood disorder caused by lack of natural sunlight during winter months.  Doctors recommend light sources that are not dissimilar to the Verilux Full Spectrum lamps and have their patients sit near this light for at least two or three hours daily.

3.  These lights can also be used to help jet lag, believe it or not.  If you are planning to travel east you can spend about a week getting up at the time you will want to wake when you reach your destination.  For example, if you live in New York, are flying to London, and intend to wake at 8 am while on your trip, 8 am in London is 3 am local time.  If your schedule allows this luxury, you can awake at 3 am daily and use a full spectrum light until the sun comes up.  The light will help your system adjust to a different rhythm, and by the time you get to London your body will think it is on London time.

4.  Full spectrum light is ideal for use with an electronic book such as the Kindle or the Nook.  These lights are glare-free, so where an ordinary reading lamp can make it difficult to see the electronic print, natural spectrum is much better.

5.  Full spectrum lighting comes in both incandescent and fluorescent versions.  If you want the benefits of fluorescent light such as energy efficiency and longer lasting bulbs but still want your light to look like sunlight, a natural spectrum light with a fluorescent bulb is an excellent option.