There are two options on the height issue. Option #1 is to LST your plants. You'll prolly wanna bend them to grow horizontally. Option #2--with cfl's, you can get them within 1 inch of the foliage before the temp gets hot enough to burn them---don't let the plants touch the light though! So, you might be able to arrange your lights to be very near your plants instead of the standard of hanging them directly above them.