A luminosity control system (10) for a fluorescent lamp (12) that has a glass enclosure (18) and a pair of lead wires (14) at each end of the glass enclosure is provided. A filament (16) is electrically coupled to each pair of lead wires. An amalgam (22) is located adjacent each filament. The amalgam releases mercury into the glass enclosure upon activation of the fluorescent lamp. A wrapped wire heater (24) is in thermal contact with a first portion of the exterior surface of the glass enclosure. The heater and a thermoelectric cooler (36) raise the temperature of the fluorescent lamp to a level above the temperature at which the fluorescent lamp produces maximum visible light as determined by mercury pressure within the glass enclosure while the amalgam releases mercury into the fluorescent lamp. Thereafter, the thermoelectric cooler (36) maintains a portion of the glass enclosure at this temperature.