<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> Chuck, I can't help much, but I have a couple observations. Since my shop isn't heated most of the winter, I wanted flourescent lights that will come on in the cold.  I forget what type they are (maybe high efficiency?), and yes they always come on, but they really buzz.  I'm still disappointed about that, but I didn't think to ask about buzzing until after they were installed, and they were expensive, over $100 each.  But my shop is a general woodworking shop, so I just put up with it. On the other hand, I just walked into our basement, where I have four 2-tube flourescent fixtures, the cheapest I could find with plastic guards over the tubes.  One of them buzzes slightly, and from the other three I hear nothing, even when standing directly under them and they're only 9" above my head.  So it appears to me the buzzing and the price are not related.  Hope someone else can help you. Clyde Christus4@aol.com wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>List, Can anyone recommend a type of fluorescent fixture and/or bulbs for the shop that  operate quietly? We've all heard the drone of the typical light set-up in many garages, kitchens, and shops.  Would like to get the new shop as "hum-free" as possible. Thanks in advance for your help, Chuck Christus, RPT Flagler Beach, FL</blockquote> </html>