Strontium phosphor blends having high CRI

A method comprising:

• providing a discharge tube defining an inner chamber having an inner surface and an ionizable fill disposed therein;
• providing electrodes extending into the discharge tube and operatively connected to an external power source;
• blending a mixture of particulate phosphors and preparing a suspension therefrom;
• coating the inner surface of the discharge tube with the suspension to form a phosphor blend layer;
• and
• energizing the ioniziable fill such that the phosphor blend is activated and white light is emitted from the discharge tube,
• wherein the phosphor blend layer comprises less than 20% rare earth-doped phosphors, based on the total weight percent of the phosphor blend, in combination with broad band non-rare earth phosphors, the phosphor blend layer including:
• from about 70 wt % to about 90 wt % of a non-rare earth red phosphor, from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of a non-rare earth blue phosphor, and from about 1 wt % to 20 wt % of a rare earth green-blue phosphor, wherein upon operation said lamp simultaneously exhibits a CRI of at least 87 and a CCT of not more than 4500K.