![]() ![]() Volume 7 Issue 5
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September 2003 (revised March 2005)
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What benefits are claimed for full-spectrum light sources?A fluorescent or incandescent lamp claimed to be full-spectrum can cost several times as much as one with a nearly identical spectral power distribution (SPD) that is not identified as full-spectrum. What benefits does a consumer get for that extra money? NLPIP reviewed the promotional claims for full-spectrum light sources from manufacturer and retailer web sites, and found a diversity of claimed benefits, including:
In order to assess the impact of these manufacturer claims on the perceptions of lighting specifiers, NLPIP conducted an online survey in April 2003. A total of 252 lighting specifiers, including electrical contractors and facility managers were asked, "Compared to other types of lighting, please indicate how you think full-spectrum light sources impact the following…" Figure 2 shows the results of the online survey.
Overall, the survey respondents believed in most of the claimed benefits of full-spectrum light sources. For nine of the twelve potential benefits, more than 50 percent of the respondents believed that full-spectrum light sources have a positive effect. More people believed in a positive effect on color perception than any of the other potential benefits, with 86 percent responding positively. The least believed claim was improved dental health, with only 15 percent responding that full-spectrum light sources affected it positively. For all claimed benefits, less than 4 percent of the respondents believed that full-spectrum light sources actually had a negative impact. As registrants of NLPIP's web site, the audience that participated in this survey probably has lighting technical knowledge greater than that of the average person, but similar to that of the typical lighting specifier. The results of this survey indicate that the marketing message from manufacturers of full-spectrum light sources appears to be getting through to its intended audience of lighting specifiers.
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