Harvard dorms are known for being luxurious, old and, well, gloomy. But students soon may have a much brighter future.

Starting with Cabot House, every undergraduate will receive a free fluorescent lamp as part of the standard dorm allotment of desks, dressers, bookshelves and beds.

A lamp giveaway, which began yesterday, will soon provide every Cabot resident with a free fluorescent lamp. Other Houses are slotted to receive lamps as quickly as possible, according to Cabot House Co-Master James H. Ware.

Although the lamps cost $55 each, Ware said the College hopes the safety gains and improved efficiency will outweigh the cost.

The estimated cost to the College for supplying lamps to all upperclass students will be over $250,000.

First-years were issued the lamps halfway through last year in response to student complaints of inadequate lighting. Halogen lights are banned in first-year dorms.

According to Ware, Cabot "looked like a lighting factory" yesterday as students chose black free-standing lamps from among the hundreds in Cabot basement and brought them to their individual rooms.

In all, Cabot will give away 370 lamps to its residents in the effort by the college to improve lighting in all undergraduate residences on campus.