Yes another Lighting question

Okie before i found this forum i was browsing some other forums and came to the conclusion that i would go with a CFL grow. with some lighting like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...xx/resizer.jpg

or a couple these:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...xx/CFLLamp.jpg

But then i came here and ran across "When-am-i-using-too-many-watts" thread and now has me rethinking my lighting..

My main issue is HEAT my apt is like an oven i have no AC. i live on the first floor of my apt and my Cab 4x3x2 is right next to my window. i am not to big on leaving the windows crack while i am out. not the greatest neighborhood.

would i be better off with the CFL? or just say fuck it and buy a 150-200w HPS system?

just 2-4 plants nothing large for personal consumption.

If you can work out a way of securing the window so you can vent heat outdoors, do the HPS.

CFLs do run cooler, but they certainly produce heat. You'll have to vent heat from them anyway.

If you do run CFLs, you trade off bud density and total yield. It's the high light intensity from HPS that makes the weight. CFLs are great for seedlings/clones, OK for slowly vegging mother plants but really a last resort in flowering.

If there's no way you're going to keep the temps below 80F/26.5C without CFLs, they can be the difference between growing a little or none at all.

Thanks for the Info Al B.

I did a little more looking into the lights and think i am going to try for a 400w HPS. i think that would be my best bet. just need to figure out how to secure the window and get some ventalation to keep the heat down.

Smoke a few, it'll come to ya. ;)

i have a 150 hps, its not very hot at all. i keep it at about 6in. from the center tops and lst when i need too. i started with 4 under it considering that i wanted 40w+ per sq ft. 2 were male, i new i would get at least 1 male. its doing very well with the 2 that are left, they are really starting to fill out at 30 days of flowering. our area gets real warm in the afternoon because thats when the sun hits the house they seem ok with only a fan on them, and i would bet that it get 85-90 up there on the hotter days. try covering your windows while the sun hits them to keep the heat down.

like the others are saying hps lighting is by far the better for bigger yields but if you cant get rid of the heat the cfl lights are your better choice i run 400watt hps lights in coolshades and the exhaust fan removes most of the heat thu the ducting costs a bit morre to set up but produces some quality buds. when you buy your lighting look at the amount of lumens and kevins the lamps produce the higher the better and try to buy a quality reflector this will enhance the light getting to your plants