> The ultra-efficient light bulbs are for sale, today, at your local hardware
> store. They're the new funky compact fluorescents. Nobody's suppressing
> them, they're just not so popular, for various reasons.
Notice that the new metal-vapour lamps offer a sol-like spectrum (brands
with emission maxima up to 10 kK and beyond are available), while having
similiar efficiencies as fluorescents. So far, they are quite expensive,
since low-volume (expensive car headlights & professional illumination)
and requiring an electronic gadget to operate them. Price trend looks
good, though.
Btw, I've heard they are great for seawater aquaria, e.g. for corals.
While hydroponic hirises are silly, subterraneous (subselenous?)
ecosystems are not. Rad load and danger of explosive decompression would
seem to require gopher mode for extraterrestrial settlements.
'gene