ASSESSING BELIEFS ABOUT LIGHTING EFFECTS ON HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, MOOD, AND SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR

Energy conservation through the adoption of new, energy-efficient tech nologies will succeed only to the extent that the new technologies are not themselves perceived as risk sources. Previous research has found that beliefs about the health effects of fluorescent lighting predict compact fluorescent lamp use in homes. This paper describes the devel opment and validation of a questionnaire to assess beliefs about the e ffects of common types of interior lighting on human health, work perf ormance, mood, and social behavior. Principal components analysis of t he 32-item Lighting Beliefs Questionnaire revealed 6 interpretable com ponents: Lighting Importance, Brightness, Major Health Effects: Fluore scent Lighting, Minor Health Effects: Fluorescent Lighting, Social Set ting, and Daylighting. The questionnaire may be used to explore respon ses to interior lighting and to discover what beliefs are held by end users. This information will assist in allaying unwarranted fears and concerns about new lighting technologies.