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Issue No. 52, November 2014
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RIGHT LIGHT
Consider amount and quality of light |
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BRIGHT TIPS
Try a lamp for extra light |
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EXPERT ADVICE
Your questions answered |
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Live, Love, Light
As we age, our eyes require more light and less glare in order to see properly.
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| RIGHT LIGHT: Consider the Amount as well as Quality of Illumination |
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Lighting becomes more important as people age. Older eyes experience two important changes:
- First, the amount of light required to sustain visual performance increases with age. Research shows that a 60-year-old needs twice as much light as a 30-year-old. Use dimmers to allow for additional light when needed. Add one or two portable fixtures in areas lacking sufficient light.
- Second, with time, human eyes become more sensitive to glare. This can seem like a bit of a Catch-22, as more light can often result in increased glare. Try to create more reflected light than direct light. A simple adjustment to window or lamp shades may do the trick.
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| BRIGHT TIPS: Light Up the Night with a Lamp |
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With many baby boomers reaching their mid-60s, homeowners should consider their age as a factor in their home lighting design. It is easy to enhance the visual performance and enjoyment for baby boomers and older folks with a few simple lighting adjustments:
- Turn on one or two table lamps while watching TV to reduce the contrast between the bright screen and the surrounding darkness.
- Use a torchiere for uplighting as well as downward illumination for versatility. Look for a fixture with a separate task light attached or one with a glass bowl at the top to shine some light downward.
- Add a task light that can be directed or pivoted as needed.
For more about lighting for aging eyes, go to ALA online.
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| EXPERT ADVICE: Want More Ideas? Ask a Lighting Professional. |
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Should bathroom vanity lighting covers turn up or down for the best light? - Tina P.
According to the ALA, a good height for a vanity fixture is 60 inches from the floor to the center of the fixture. That recommendation is designed to provide good lighting for a large range of heights. The most important consideration is that the light does not create glare in the eyes of a person standing at the mirror.
For example, for a person that is 6 feet tall, a light placed at a level of 60 inches from the floor to the center of the fixture places the top of most fixtures just above eye level. This placement will prevent glare, if the shade is directed upward.
Do you have questions about lighting your home?
Click here to submit your questions to an ALA-trained lighting professional.
Visit ALA on Facebook.
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