It's Not Easy Being Green - Lighting

Lighting. Seems like a minor detail, but it has been a major headache... It is hard to picture, expensive, confusing (as there are a vast arrays of types), and pretty darn important to the overall sense of things. If you have done a fantastic job pulling together an amazing space, but it is lit wrong, the space will still look like crap---or worse, give you a headache.

From a green perspective, there are some obvious choices---chief among them are light emitting diodes (LED). Itty-bitty, super bright little things. They are incredibly energy efficient and last for a long, long, long time (doubly limiting consumption). Sounds great, but they emit an intense light that diffuses quickly so you have to be careful of how you use them. The light tends to be blue, so it doesn't always play nicely with other kinds of lighting (their light is not white either---and who wants their colors to clash?). And, of course, they are expensive as all get out. Less than they used to be, but more expensive than energy gobblers like incandescent bulbs (the ones we are all used to). And the light can be harsh... Luckily, Jeremy has a friend who produces some high-end stuff locally and happens to have a good showroom and is capable of explaining to a moron like me how phosphorous covers can whiten up the light (yeah, I know...phosphorous? Apparently, it absorbs blue light...who knew?)

So, it looks like we will be using some of them in coves about 4" off the floor inside and out. They will look pretty great. But as far as illuminating the room---fluorescent will be the order of the day. Lighting coves at the top of one wall will bounce light off the ceiling to help light the room. Task lighting and pendent lamps with compact fluorescent bulbs will do the rest. Everyone keeps telling me that the light is better with this technology now... Less flickering... Less harshness... We will see. Fingers are crossed.

BTW, I mistyped fluorescent as flourescent throughout this thing. I guess I have holiday baking projects on my mind... And thanks to Anthony, who has reassured me greatly on this aspect of the project.