Choose fluorescents for warm, flattering hospitality lighting

The use of fluorescent lighting in hotels is growing. They are easy on the environment, use less energy and, unlike incandescents, they don't become hot to the touch. Older versions of fluorescents could make skin color look greenish or gray, but newer versions have corrected that problem. Fluorescents are a good starting point for your indoor hotel lighting.

I recommend: For hospitality industry lighting, Osram strongly believes in fluorescents for their energy efficiency and comfortable feel. Hotel & Motel Management explains that the burgeoning trend in lighting for hotels is fluorescents. For design tips, try Louie Lighting.

Consider halogens for focused, bright lighting in hotels

For a focused, crisp beam, halogen is your best bet for hotel and restaurant lighting. Ideal for accentuating art or small objects and good for tight corners, halogen lights are easily dimmable (unlike fluorescents) and last longer than incandescents. However, they are extremely hot to the touch and can have their longevity severely shortened if the glass comes into contact with human hands.

I recommend: General Electric offers a wide variety of halogen lighting for hotels. For track lighting fixtures and accessories that use halogen bulbs, try Pegasus Associates.

Phase out incandescents for optimum energy efficiency

Lighting for the hospitality industry has long relied on incandescent bulbs. After all, they are inexpensive, dimmable and approximate daylight very effectively. Because light is produced by heating a filament, however, the bulbs get hot and waste a lot of energy. Because of this lack of energy efficiency, many countries, including Brazil, Ireland and Venezuela are phasing out the incandescents in favor of fluorescents.

I recommend: Legislation has been passed by the US Congress to phase out incandescent bulbs by in the year 2012, but incandescents are still in wide use and are available at sites like bulbs.com and 1000Bulbs.com.