BOOK FIRST. Then start trying to grow.
If you have to ask if you need 12hrs of dark, you don't know enough about how it grows to start it... like making a baby when you don't know the first thing about kids....
If you are growing to actually have a decent yield, in a decent 3 month period, you WILL need to spend energy. You will need HID lighting.
If you got time, patience, and dont mind spending every day for a 6 weeks playing with the plant before you start flower... you can use CFLs.
Remember this: A nice panel of 23w CFL can penetrate almost 3-4" of foliage........... the outer layer will produce. A 1000w HPS bulb can punch thru and provide light for buds 15-18" thru foliage. The whole plant, top to bottom, outside to the stalk... whole thing produces buds.
Light is the most important part of photosynthesis, don't skimp unless you have to, and if you have to, remember to adjust the plant accordingly.
If you want low heat, low power, then CFL or even LED is your best bet, but learn MUCH about LST training, so you expose as much of the plant to surface light as possible....
I just tell ppl, if ur serious, get serious. Spend the money the first time, get good lights, good fans, and good genetics. The nutes and dirt/water and all that is just salesmen, its all the same.
Sun and air.... if you want to play God, you gotta be willing to be a good God, not a half ass one... build your empire to succeed, not simply survive.