Blog

A great deal of research has been carried out on the effects of fluorescent lighting on schoolchildren. There is also a body of research on the impact of fluorescent light on children's behavior in general. Most of this has been directed at establishing whether or not fluorescent lighting in schools causes hyperactivity, and whether it can also affect autistic children.

Most schools and hospitals use fluorescent lighting, mainly because of the price. Fluorescent lighting remains one of the most cost-efficient lighting systems when you consider both installation costs and energy use. The debate on the effect of fluorescent lighting on children, in general, goes on. Some studies claim that it has minimal effect. Other studies seem to indicate an increase in behavioral issues when students are exposed to fluorescent light in schools. However, there is a growing consensus that the natural flicker of fluorescent lamps does affect autistic children.

Decorative Light Covers

We can at least say that the effect of fluorescent lighting on schoolchildren is a matter of legitimate debate. And there are proven effects on autistic children. So should fluorescent lighting be used in schools at all? Perhaps not. Although there is one potential solution to this problem: decorative light covers.

Decorative light covers are available in many designs. You can choose from a selection of cloudy skies, waterfalls, and ocean scenes. We also feature designs with images of flowers, the Milky Way, and far off galaxies. When you install a decorative lighting cover, the image is backlit by the fluorescent light. The effect of the bright, glaring wavelengths of fluorescent light is mitigated, and should, therefore, have less of an effect on our children.

Hospital patients and office workers also comment on the effectiveness of decorative light covers. They love how the images appear when backlit from the fluorescent lamps. And they love the quality of the light that has been filtered by the light cover. The photos are printed on a plastic film, and then the film is laid on top of the existing fluorescent light cover. There is no glue, so the images are not blurred by any other material. If patients and office workers find such fluorescent light covers calming, then so should a child.

Fluorescent Light Panel Images

What images are best for school classrooms? For the many rooms, a blue sky with cirrus or cumulus clouds offers excellent light filtration and adds a feeling of openness and being outdoors. Combining a few sky and cloud panels on a school classroom ceiling can create the impression of looking through a skylight on a beautiful summer day.

Alternatively, a view of the Milky Way can be used to teach the constellations. Or various images from the Hubble telescope can be used for educational purposes. Apart from that, the critical factor is that the filtered light doesn't have the same negative effect on the children as the unfiltered light. Even autistic children can feel better in their classrooms. The same is true of beach and ocean scenes, and also views of overhanging trees.

Effect of Fluorescent Lighting on Schoolchildren

Where autistic children are taught separately, fluorescent lighting panels would appear to be the most sensible form of lighting. They are inexpensive at under $30 each for a 2 x 4 ft panel. They reduce flicker to a minimum and also give the kids something to become interested in. We offer images of stars, black holes, flowers, galaxies, trees, sand, beaches, ocean, and sunsets!  We can also print custom decorative fluorescent light covers.

There are many arguments regarding the effect of fluorescent lighting on schoolchildren. However, since there is at least some evidence against fluorescent light, it makes sense to think of the children first. Take action while the adults argue. Decorative fluorescent light covers are available in many designs and topics. Each one is sure to reduce flicker to help autistic children and to reduce the blue light and UV radiation that might also affect many schoolchildren.