Resources on General Lighting (04)

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Lighting and Fan Information
The top bar menu on the American Lighting Association Web site allows non-members to select from six areas of "Lighting and Fan Information" to learn how to use living room lighting, dining room lighting, kitchen lighting, bathroom lighting and bedroom lighting to achieve a desired affect. The "Lighting Your Life" section outlines the basics of lighting, including the value of home interior lighting, how to determine your interior lighting needs and the basic types of interior lighting. Information on the shapes and forms of lighting such as chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, wall-mounted fixtures like sconces, table lamps, track lighting, recessed lighting follows, along with the details on such lighting controls as integrated dimming systems, touch dimmers, slide dimmers and rotary dimmers. This section concludes with information on the various light sources. Other areas of the "Lighting and Fan Information," include "Bathroom and Kitchen Lighting," "Landscape Lighting," "Selecting a Ceiling Fan," "Energy-wise Lighting," and links to resources and related articles. The "Landscape Lighting" section has some depth of detail, exploring the value of exterior lighting, including patio lighting, deck lighting and security lighting, while "Selecting a Ceiling Fan" walks the uninformed through the basics of choosing the right ceiling fan. Additional articles accompany each section and include such topics as chandeliers, dimmers and ceiling fans.

Light Therapy: Is It Right For You?
Light therapy or phototherapy is a kind of treatment that makes use of light boxes that emit light that is similar to sunlight. This kind of treatment is said to work best for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that occurs mostly during winter. The light boxes are said to boost the mood, much like natural sunlight does. Phototherapy is also said to treat conditions like ADHD, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease, among others. Another type of phototherapy makes use of ultraviolet wavelengths to treat skin disorders such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and atopic dermatitis. While it is said to be safe, light therapy can have adverse effects on people whose skin is sensitive to light.

Using Lighting for Home Decoration
NBC offers practical home lighting tips and ideas on this website. Sections include lighting for home security, lighting for function and fashion, refreshing your home with proper lighting, bathroom lighting, choosing a light bulb, working with lighting dimmers in the dining room, installing outdoor lighting, and a gallery of options to help you use lighting to decorate and enhance the mood of your home.

Seasonal Depression and Light Therapy
This article discusses the pineal gland and biological clocks as well as the use of light to combat seasonal depression. Light exposure and light therapy is used regularly to treat sleep disorders and can also help the effects of jet lag and changes in shift work schedules. Depending on the light intensity, as little as half an hour each day causes the worst of the symptoms to pass, the author says. The mood lifts, and energy returns. Again, it is light through the eyes which matters. Some studies, but not all, show that patients with SAD have a less pronounced cycle of melatonin secretion than people without SAD, and light therapy appears to restore a normal pattern.