[Greenbuilding] [Greenbuilding fluorescent lighting questions

[Reuben Deumling]

I'm interested in energy miser fluorescent tube fixtures. I looked at the
links Lawrence compressed for us (below), which refer to the tubes
themselves.

My questions:
(1) can anyone recommend specific complete fixtures that use such bulbs? Who
(besides big box stores) sells them? Roughly how expensive are such
fixtures?
(2) My basement is currently lit (most inadequately) with three CFLs at
something like 18W ea. I'm thinking four fixtures more evenly spaced would
be great, but at 52W for each fluorescent tube that adds up quickly, unless
I switch them all individually, which is certainly possible. Nevertheless,
are there high quality energy efficient fluorescent tube fixtures that draw,
say, <30W?
(3) Anticipating that my basement will one day have an 8' ceiling, and wall
and ceiling surfaces painted with much more reflective colors, how far apart
can I reasonably space them to illuminate a 19' x 24' room? Can I get by
with two? Or better have four and switch them individually or in two banks?

Thanks.

Reuben Deumling

On 5/22/07, Lawrence Lile <LLile at projsolco.com> wrote:
>
> T-5's are pretty good stuff.  T-5 lamps with an efficient electronic
> ballast will be one of the most effective sources of light you can get
> today, and the price is not bad either.  A typical bulb might be 100
> lumens per watt initial lumens.
> http://tinyurl.com/24dvmq
>
> Low mercury T-8's with a good electronic ballast can reach 107 lumens
> per watt initial lumens, one of the best available technologies. This is
> what I just put in my house.
> http://tinyurl.com/ynmauc
>