Regardless of how fancy a villa or palace one may enter in Saudi Arabia, inevitably rooms will be lit or at least supplemented with fluorescent lighting. Even small apartments, regular villas, business and restaurants will abound with fluorescent lights. Saudis and Arabs in general seem to thrive in flourescent lighting. My personal view on why this is so is perhaps due to how many typical homes may not have large bright and airy windows or the windows may be purposely kept closed to protect privacy which is an integral part of the Saudi culture. Therefore the illusion of natural lighting is supplemented with an overabundance of flourescent lighting instead.
But…is this really a healthy practice? For example, according to this article, “fluorescent lights may be more energy efficient and provide a bright glowing light, but they do also contain mercury which can find its way into food and water. The mercury contained in one standard fluorescent lamp will contaminate 6000 gallons of water beyond safe drinking levels. Even low-mercury lamps (there is no such thing as a mercury free fluorescent lamp) will contaminate more than 1000 gallons of water beyond safe levels. All types of fluorescent lamps should never be broken or thrown in the trash. They should be recycled by taking them to a local household hazardous waste collection program, commercial recycling company or retail take back program.
Both types of lamps, fluorescent and incandescent, may have lead components to solder the connections at the base, in the glass, and in the inside phosphor coating. At present, incandescent lamps under federal law can be disposed in the trash. However limited, there are opportunities to recycle incandescent lamps. If no recycling opportunity exists in your area check with your local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection program to see if they accept them.
General Electric has plans for a new high-efficiency incandescent lamp to be available by 2010 that will be 4 times as efficient as today’s 125-year-old technology. That would mean that during the lifetime of the lamp that it would use about the same electricity as a fluorescent lamp, it contains much less lead than older incandescent lamps, and no mercury.”
There are additional links which study the impact of fluorescent lights to one’s health:
This post discusses the findings of Dr. John Ott who is viewed as a pioneer in the study of health effects and lighting.
Environmental, Health and Safety Online also has an extensive article about the use and safety of fluorescent lighting as well as further information on the health hazards associated with fluorescent lights.
Filed under: Saudi customs, Saudi Living
I have never understood the fixation with such bright lighting…my eyes feel soooooo relaxed now that Im back in the states…I didnt realize how harsh that lighting was I guess after suffering under it for so many years…maybe they had something to do with my constant headaches?
I also find it interesting that people will spend a fortune on building homes, villas etc…and then ugly them up with those lights just nailed to the ceiling with wires leading everywhere….
which brings me to another side point….why do they not attempt to hide wiring over here…wires up and down walls…across floors etc….I dont get it.
It is an unexplainable mystery! Or as one friend told me just yesterday remember…Saudi Arabia is only in the year 1430 whereas the rest of the world is 2009 so there is much catching up to do yet! (smile)
Believe me its not just a Saudia thing! The Africans love the fluorescent lighting too and they don’t mind the wires all over the place either!!! ; ) They also like the colored bulbs!
Do you know if the new compact fluorescent bulbs pose the same dangers? Also do Saudis really dispose of their bulbs the way you mentioned they should?
In Saudi, everything goes in the trash…from raw meat to lightbulbs and batteries as far as I know. However, my husband, daughter and I were at my FIL last Friday and noticed that they had 3 bins! They’re recycling in his compound. I was so happy to see this now being done here and I hope it catches on to the wider population.
As for the wires…I heard that it’s the ‘finishers’ that are lacking in this country. They can throw up a building in no time, but having the right people to finish off the inside has not been a priority yet. Maybe the Saudis have fluorescent lights in their houses so that they don’t get rickets from not enough sunlight. : )
Not just the Saudis, seems most Arabs like the extra lighting. It kills me. I am a cave dweller type and enjoy table lamp lighting. Even in the states when you visit Arabs they will have a fluorescent light strung up somewhere to ‘illuminate’ the place. I feel like I am in a doctor’s office all the time.
In our home, we used to have chandelliers in every room, then one day my inlaws decided to take down the beautiful chandelliers and hang flourescent lights from the ceilings!!! grrrr!! it makes a beautiful home look so drab!
can I just add in that there isn’t only a health issue but as a wife I’m sick of hearing “what color is this?” “Does this match” “everytime I go outside the color changes” I hate the lighting in saudi homes.. short of sending Mr. Man outside naked to get dressed in matching clothes some natural lighting wouldn’t hurt. But noooo everything has to be dark like a dungeon.
I am so thankful that we “escaped” with only our kitchen and 2 bathrooms having flourescent lighting…and actually I like the flourescent lighting in the kitchen!
One of my reverse acculturation problems was readjusting to North American fluorescent lighting. I have no doubt they are unhealthy in any number of ways.
It is sad that with such an abundance of natural light there is recourse to such harsh artificial lighting. Would skylights be a modern solution to the privacy/lighting issue? How about traditional architecture–lighting from the courtyard, macharabia, etc.?
PS Chandeliers!!!!! and lace curtains!!!!
yeah, it’s true. Actually, Moroccan homes are full of flourescents!! I still don’t know why they like… I think this is for all the arab countries! From Morocco to saudi arabia hehehehehe…
This is a question that I have since I entered in my first home of arabic people!
In my understanding it’s used cos it gives “withe” light, and the withe light is more fresh than the others…
but who know the true reason? hahaha!
In Spain they love fluorescent lights too. Especially in restaurants. But the worst lighted restaurants are useually the best, becvause that’s where all the local people go!
Hi Aakfe,
it’s true that in Spain we use it. But actually not in home. The flourescent is used in bars and restaurants, as you said. The reason that the worst lighted restaurants are the best it’s because that restaurants are the oldest ones and where the cuisin is “natural”.
Fluorescent lights must be something the whole overseas is fixed on. I remember the lights would actually give me more of a headache so I opened the windows for the sun. I cringed whenever I looked up at the ceiling.
I have the answer all of you are looking for……… They prefer it because it’s “not hot”. In my home I have the fluorescent lights in a recessed area in the ceiling and around the perameter of the room are the small spot lights. I always put the small ones on cause they give the room a really warm look. It looks inviting and makes everything and EVERYONE look nice. Thank god my husband agrees with me and hates the fluorescent lighting but when my in-laws comes over they turn off MY lights and on come the fluorescent “because its cooler that way”. I really don’t notice a diffrence but they are all convinced that the others give off heat. So there you go.
great comments from everyone and a real “eye opener.”
I think the reasons can all be – not hot, cheaper, illusion of natural sunlight.
Lord have mercy! I cannot understand that! I was in Bahrain and we had them there as well. LOL! I hated it!
anthrogeek10
I thought they were just mad here in Egypt where I have had arguments with the electrician who insists that I am old fashioned in not liking the ‘Modern new fluorescent lights’. Horrible horrible horrible. Anyway I dont listen to them an my flat is lit in lovely old fashioned lighting. Beautiful