LED lighting seems to be a plausible alternative from fluroescents. Low electricity and low heat. I hope the experiments will have the desired results.

I also heard of people trying them on coral reef systems. They require way more light than an orchid! (My 10gallon reef uses 90Wpowercompacts ,I think made by bent T5 diameter tubes, T5 being the most efficient of the fluorescents. While a 80W shop light with T12 regular tubes can house a small collection of 15-30 plants) I don't know how they are working for reefs but I think I read somewhere that they are on the market in europe(?)

I've also heard Mahon mention about his red and blue LEDs before...