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Seeing the light

New bulbs take getting used to

Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 14/01) - Every day hundreds of city office workers are getting therapy to beat the winter blues. Bellanca Developments is installing full-spectrum lighting in its four downtown office towers.

NNSL photo

The future's so bright, Tania Marynowich has to wear shades. Actually, Marynowich said she hardly noticed the difference when full spectrum lighting was installed in her Precambrian Building office, even without sunglasses. - Richard Gleeson/NNSL photo


"Full spectrum lighting is as close to daylight as your eyes can see," said Elvis Brown of Bellanca.

Brown said research indicates that getting a good dose of imitation daylight helps people cope with the darkness of winter.

It's a theory Richard Provan of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development ascribes to, though he said it will take a little getting used to.

"Everything is brighter and a bit harsher," said Provan during his fifth day under the new lights.

"I'll be happy when they turn the lights down. But I think it's definitely better to have full spectrum lighting, just to offset the darkness of winter."

Down the hall from Provan's fourth floor Scotia Centre office, Tracy-Lynn Lower said offsetting darkness is all well and good, but the new lights churn out too many watts for her liking.

Lower and her Business Credit Corporation associates stepped into the new light after a two-day board meeting at the beginning of the week.

"We came in Wednesday and we were like Wow!" said Lower.

"They're too bright. I already have a bright computer screen and, with the lights, by the end of the day I've got a headache."

Brown said it typically takes people a week or so to get used to the new tubes, which boost light levels 30-40 per cent. For those like Lower who find them too harsh, Bellanca will remove one of the two tubes in fixtures above their desks. Afzal Currimbhoy works a few steps from Lower's office.

"It's better than before," said Currimbhoy. "I don't get the tiredness in my eyes that I used to. The new lights are also supposed to cut down on glare off computer screens and are more energy efficient. Bellanca figures they will pay for themselves in four years.

Full spectrum lighting also shines down on the products available at the new Canadian Tire.

"Take a look in there," said Brown. "It's just like a tanning bed."