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LED versus Halogen Bulbs : Battle of the Bulbs

L.E.D

  • Versatile and durable
  • Lasts up to 50,000 hours
  • No warm-up time
  • Takes 8 watts to power your bulb
  • No filaments or moving parts
  • Light produced is directional and focused

Halogen

  • Fragile
  • Lasts between 2,000 and 3,000 hours
  • Takes 35 watts to give the same effect as an LED bulb
  • Filaments
  • Light produced bounces in all directions

 

LED lighting will on average save you 80% on your electricity bill when switching from a halogen outdoor lighting system. That’s a ton of cash! Also and LED bulb’s life span is much longer than a halogen bulb. The more rounds it can go the less money and time you have to spend maintaining it. In this battle of the bulbs you have two warriors to choose from: LED or halogen.

If you don’t currently have an outdoor lighting system at your home, make sure you feel comfortable with how it works and looks before purchasing it. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we offer our clients a free nighttime demonstration. During the demonstration, our outdoor lighting designers install a temporary lighting system so you can see how it will look each and every night. Not only does this make our clients more comfortable with their purchase, but it also allows us to make sure the design is just right.

If you have an outdoor lighting system that’s halogen, but are interested in LED lighting, you may be in luck. A lot of existing systems can be retrofitted to LED pretty easily. Make sure to reach out to your landscape lighting company to see if it is something they can do.

As always, we at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives are available for any questions you may have regarding residential, commercial and holiday outdoor lighting. Please do not hesitate to contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office if you have any questions!

 

Architectural Outdoor Lighting Brings Out Properties’ Best Features

At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we’ve designed and installed over 85,000 custom outdoor lighting systems. Each one is unique in its own right as the best outdoor lighting systems use the property as its muse and each property is different. Every lighting designer’s goal should be to bring out the best parts of the property, whether it’s the architecture, landscaping, etc.

When I look at pictures of architectural outdoor lighting, I’m always amazed at the vast differences in architecture and lighting techniques. What works well on one home won’t necessarily work for another. Here are some great examples of outdoor lighting for different architecture styles.

architectural-outdoor-lightingAt first glance this brick home is simply stunning, but it also has a lot of architectural details that our Outdoor Lighting Perspectives designer wanted to bring out in his design. There are numerous peaks along the roofline, a porch and a large archway over the front door. Each part is key to the overall look of the home and needed to be illuminated properly to keep that “simply stunning” look.  The majority of the home was lit using up lights. Well lights are installed near the base of the home and wash the vertical areas with an even color. I especially like how the details within the brick are highlighted. All of the architectural details are there, even after dark.

outdoor-lighting-birminghamThe columns here are the big architectural detail of the home. At night, this property had a completely different ambiance than during the day because the columns couldn’t be appreciated. By installing column lighting that is able to light each column from the bottom to the top, the home is much more appealing at night.

 

This home in the Birmingham area has so many details that it would be a shame if they couldn’t be enjoyed all night long. Architectural outdoor lighting is able to bring out the numerous arches, the ornate railings along the multiple balconies, the curved details, etc.

 

 

Here is an example of modern architectural lighting. This home’s modern lines are apparent with the addition of up lights. The home itself has wide eaves that catch the light from below, but also provide a great place to install some lighting. If you look closely over the doorway, you’ll see that instead of up lighting, a few light fixtures were installed in the eaves to shine down on the front patio and porch area. For that particular space, it was the best option for ensuring the light levels matched the rest of the front façade.

Whether it’s brick, stucco or a log home, many times some of the best architectural details are the textures of a property. Take this house for instance; the stonework around the front door and the garage is gorgeous. It brings depth and complexity to the home. If the house wasn’t properly lit at night it would be shame. With the addition of professional outdoor lighting, the warm colors of the stone as well as the texture can be admired.

If you are interested to learn how architectural outdoor lighting can enhance the look of your home, please contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office.

 

LED Landscape Lighting Brightens Home and Deck in Long Island

LED landscape lighting has been growing in popularity over the last few years and has been a staple in the lighting industry. Technology has improved greatly and due to its energy efficiency, LED is a wonderful option when considering outdoor lighting. LED bulbs last much longer than standard low voltage lights and require much less maintenance, making it very useful in many installations (including fixtures that may be in hard to reach areas). Recently our Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Long Island location installed two residential outdoor lighting systems using LED lights that have enhanced the respective properties beautifully.

The first takes place in the front of the client’s home. Amy and Dennis Downling, who are the local experts in outdoor lighting in Long Island, were called to this home because there wasn’t sufficient lighting after dark. The house itself has a lovely stucco finish with large front columns. The columns not only have ornate details at the top, but also stone bases as anchors. These dominating features, however, couldn’t be appreciated at night. The addition of LED lights fixed that.

The Dowlings designed a lighting system that highlights the features and textures of the home. LED up lights were installed at the base of each of the four front columns. Despite being low voltage (the system uses less than 100 watts!), LED provides enough light output to illuminate the columns from the stone base to the very top architectural details. From the warm stucco color to the green landscaping, the white LED light allows the colors on the property to pop.

The second LED lighting project from Outdoor Lighting Perspectives took place at the back of the house. This homeowner had a multi-level deck that included 2 sets of stairs and a hot tub. LED lights were installed onto several of the posts as well as the top and bottom of the stairs to provide sure-footing. Take a look at the picture and notice how well lit the deck and stairs are. The LEDs are bright enough to light the entire area although they are only situated on the posts. The complete system included 20 deck light fixtures and uses less than 80 watts!

While energy efficiency is important to us, we want to make sure that quality of the light output is high enough to ensure enhanced safety and security (as well as beauty). That’s why, for example, we utilized LED landscape lighting and not solar lighting. Solar lighting technology isn’t at the point where the performance is reliable. LED, however, is. The brightness as well as the color is very good. While the initial cost of LED lighting fixtures may be higher than an incandescent or halogen fixture, the energy cost is much lower.

For those homeowners who are reading this and saying “I wish my existing lighting system was LED,” you do have options. Depending on the existing lighting system, it can be retrofitted using new LED bulbs.

If you have questions regarding LED landscape lighting or outdoor lighting in general, please contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office.

 

Outdoor Deck Lighting Adds Safety to your Space

A few years ago my in-laws moved into a new construction home in a new neighborhood. The house and yard are fabulous. Off the back of their house, they have a lovely covered porch that opens up to a nice deck. On the far end of the deck, there are a few stairs that lead out into the yard. It’s a great space to sit and enjoy a drink and some appetizers, but at night, it was a little unsafe. The neighborhood they live in doesn’t have a lot of street light that spills over into their yard, so when the sun goes down, it’s dark. You can barely see the stairs that lead to the yard, until we urged them to add outdoor deck lighting.

Sure footing is important in any space, but when it involves older people or children and changes in elevation, it becomes even more important. When we at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives visit our clients’ properties, we always look for the areas that need extra lighting, and decks are usually one of them.

deck-lightingThere are a few options when it comes to outdoor deck lights. The most common is installed at the top of the posts or along the railings, like the ones seen here that shine down on the decking below. Depending on the amount of railing between posts, one light may only be needed for every two or three posts.

Another deck lighting option is LED rope lights, seen here lining this pool. These are easily installed along the underside of the railing for a more modern look. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we’ve installed this type of deck and patio lighting on a lot of residential as well as commercial properties with patios. The LED rope lighting is available in several colors if the customer wants something other than the warm or cool white.

One aspect of deck lighting our outdoor lighting designers pay particular attention to are the steps. Steps, not surprisingly, can be the most dangerous part of the deck. They need to be clearly visible to make sure that no one trips and falls. There are two ways we light stairs. The first is installing lights on the railings like we do along the deck in other areas. The second option is to install the light on the vertical part of the step.

Not only does deck lighting increase the safety of our outdoor living space, but it allows you to enjoy it at all hours of the day and night. A well-lit outdoor area is much more inviting that a dark deck or patio. We are firm believers that if you have invested money in your outdoor living structures, you should be able to use them!

If you have areas of your yard that need some extra lighting to be safe, please reach out to your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office.

 

Lightscaping: Bedecking an Outdoor Landscape with Lighting

Lighting should be one of the main components of any home design project. Every home needs enough windows to admit natural light during the day and ample artificial lighting to properly illuminate indoor and outdoor spaces at night. Most homeowners make sure that they can travel with ease inside of their home, but they fail to plan for adequate outdoor lighting. A lack of adequate lighting surrounding your property can put you and your home at risk.

For example, you will need sufficient illumination on your lawn and backyard for numerous safety and security reasons. You wouldn’t want any member of your household to stumble on a poorly lit garden path or driveway and hurt themselves. You also wouldn’t want a prowler to sneak up on your house unseen. That is why it is so necessary to have ample illumination.

Creative outdoor landscape lighting should be installed in a way that serves both practical and decorative purposes. Although your garden may look trimmed and well-cared for during the day, the same garden can be easily destroyed if it is inadequately lit. If you have guests or family members spending time outdoors after the sun has started to go down, they could inadvertently trample over your pristine flowerbeds or knock over your favorite garden statue. They could quickly make a mess of your landscaping and even hurt themselves in the process.

The right outdoor lighting can also spice up an otherwise plain patio or courtyard. Low-voltage outdoor deck lighting fixtures will consume less power and still make your home feel warm and inviting without causing your electric bills to skyrocket. Outdoor lighting fixtures strategically placed around ponds, rocks, or trees can create an enchanting atmosphere, especially when you use a variety of colored lights.

For a more powerful effect, you should hire reputable lighting specialists like Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. They know how to bring out the beauty of any outdoor space with customized, well-thought out, and strategic lighting designs. You can also arrange for these lighting specialists to install custom lamp casings, integrated power sources for optimum efficiency, and replace broken fixtures. It is always beneficial to invest in an expert when you are dealing with electricity.

Energy-efficient outdoor lighting that provides ample illumination should be a standard feature in any home. Once you have high-quality outdoor lighting fixtures in place, you can safely and securely navigate and admire the night-time beauty of your yard, garden, patio, or deck with complete peace of mind.

 

Guide and Beguile with Cost-effective Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting

Our eyes are only able to see objects that either reflect or give off their own light at night. People are not able to see things clearly at night, especially if it is not illuminated by a sufficient light source. This means you will be more likely to stumble or hurt yourself on sharp objects and rough surfaces if you attempt to make your way through areas that do not have adequate lighting.

Unfortunately, the moon does not offer homeowners and businesses the amount of light that is needed to maneuver freely without the fearing of tripping or bumping into something. Commercial businesses, in particular, need to have ample lighting to attract customers and keep them safe while they are on their property. If a company doesn’t have sufficient low voltage outdoor lighting, late night consumers may assume they are closed and move onto the next business.

Unlike most outdoor residential lighting fixtures, the lighting at outdoor commercial spaces is usually left on for hours at a time and some businesses need to leave it on all night long. This will unfortunately increase the amount of power being consumed and your energy bills. That is why it is strongly recommended that business owners invest in high-quality light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures. LED lights run on a lower voltage and can last up to 50,000 hours. That is 20 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

Beside showing customers that the establishment is still open for business, commercial outdoor lighting serves many other valuable purposes. For example, the right lighting design at an outdoor eatery could establish a more romantic ambiance. Commercial outdoor lighting also serves the more practical purpose of allowing patrons to safely park their cars and find their way into the establishment by following a well-lit pathway.

Please keep in mind that you may not achieve the desired effect if you randomly install outdoor string lights without any planning for functionality or illumination aesthetics. If you are unsure of what you want, you can trust in the advice of outdoor lighting specialists like Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. They offer a wide selection of modern and traditional outdoor lighting fixtures, plus they can help you by providing professional design and installation services.

Adequate commercial lighting is a worthwhile investment that will make the establishment more appealing and inviting for prospective customers. With a more professional lighting design, places like retail shops and restaurants can draw more attention to their businesses and create a more impressive urban landscape. For quality outdoor lighting choices and guidance, you can count on experienced experts like Outdoor Lighting Perspectives.

 

Crime Fighting Street Lights?

At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we are always intrigued by new lighting technologies, so it isn’t surprising that an article discussing crime fighting street lights piqued our interest. The city of Chattanooga tested new LED technology in a crime-ridden park in their city and now they are looking to switch out lights across the rest of the city.

Coolidge Park in Chattanooga is a large park in the city that had become dangerous for visitors at night. Gang violence had pushed the city towards incorporating large stadium lighting throughout the park to make sure all the areas were well lit. Worried that the stadium flood lights would ruin the park’s atmosphere, a local company brought a new lighting technology to the table (you can read the whole story here).

Instead the company proposed trying wirelessly controlled LED street lights that were not only energy-efficient, but could help combat the growing crime problem. Each light bulb is able brighten a crime scene or tail a suspicious person running through the park. Controlled out of patrol police car, the new park lights have not only cut down the crime, but increased the park’s use. People are now enjoying the park at all hours of the night.

For the city of Chattanooga, the benefits of a new lighting system like this are many. LED bulbs in general are much more energy efficient than other lighting options, but there are additional savings due to their controls. The lights dim at times when they aren’t being used cutting down on wasted energy and light output. Additionally, the city will save money on maintenance as LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours.

Because the entire lighting system can be controlled manually, they city is looking at possible ways to take advantage, for example using them to flash warning signals during emergencies.

Street lighting, as shown through this Chattanooga example, is a big crime deterrent and makes people feel safe in areas after dark. Unfortunately, a lot of municipalities have outdated systems that require a lot of maintenance or don’t provide enough light. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we try to work with what fixtures are already on the property if we can and just retrofit the light source. For instance, a parking garage may have metal halide high bay lights that we can retro fit to LED or induction lighting. Both LED and induction lighting not only last much longer than metal halide, but they are also much brighter for a safer look.

If you have questions regarding commercial outdoor lighting, please contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office.

 

Enhanced Outdoor Living with Outdoor Lighting

One of my favorite parts of my job is talking to our outdoor lighting professionals about the projects they are working on. Some have some wonderful new clients who want some unique and contemporary outdoor lighting systems. Over the last few months I’ve noticed a trend: outdoor lighting systems in outdoor living spaces.

At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we are huge proponents of making sure you get the most out of your outdoor living spaces with professional outdoor lighting. Yet, we still find that a lot of homeowners have decks, porches, patios, outdoor kitchens and other outdoor structures that they can’t use at night. That seems to be changing. More of our clients are asking us to enhance their outdoor living spaces with beautiful and efficient low voltage outdoor lighting.

Here’s a great example from Rick Johnson, who designs and installs outdoor lighting in Austin. He had a call from a client who recently had a beautiful outdoor kitchen built in their backyard. They entertain a lot and wanted to open that space up to guests all night long. They had a few existing flood lights, but they weren’t enough to properly (and beautifully) light the whole area and didn’t show off the details of the outdoor kitchen. Rick and his team were able to give the homeowners a lighting system that features the sleek lines of the kitchen while making the space safer for guests.

Our most frequently used outdoor lighting fixtures are our copper path lights and our well lights. Neither of those were used in this installation. Instead, the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Austin team used LED rope lighting and small down lights in this space. LED rope lights are just that, rope-like encasing with LED lights within it. They are great for entertaining spaces as they emit enough light to properly light an area, but they are also available in a variety of colors for a funky look. In this instance, LED rope lights in a cool white were the perfect complement to this modern outdoor kitchen.

To highlight the design and texture of the outdoor kitchen, the rope lighting was installed on the underside of the bar area, along the step from the pool patio to the outdoor kitchen and along the top of the retaining wall that defines the space. The stone work on the retaining walls can now be appreciated at all times of the day.

Although the LED rope lighting is aesthetically pleasing, it also increases the safety of the space. Now the railings, steps and sharp edges are more clearly seen by guests for sure-footing.

The rope lighting, with its down-lighting nature was not enough to make this kitchen useable. The counters and cook space needed to be lit too! Small down lights were installed on the beams of the existing pergola for some overhead lighting. It is just enough to light the space efficiently without overwhelming the area.

Whether it is an outdoor kitchen like this, a deck, patio or other outdoor living space, outdoor lighting is imperative if you want to enjoy the space at all hours of the day safely. If you have a space that needs outdoor lighting, reach out to your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office. Our custom designs will ensure that you have a system that not only beautiful, but efficient and effective.

 

Outdoor Lighting Techniques: Up-lighting

Next up in our series of outdoor lighting techniques is up-lighting. Up-lighting is one of the most versatile strategies in outdoor lighting design as it is used in a variety of applications. Up-lighting is an excellent way to highlight the beauty of trees and architectural details.

The Well Light is one of the most commonly used residential outdoor lighting fixture

A number of fixtures can be used when up-lighting, but the most commonly used fixture is the well light, or BB3 (seen here). The fixture is installed into the ground, no deeper than 12 inches. Different beams of light can be achieved by placing the fixture closer or further away from the structure and by changing the angle of the light bulb.

 

birmingham-outdoor-lightingGrazing is a form of up-lighting that enhances the textures of a vertical space by placing a fixture only 6 to 8 inches from the surface and aiming the fixture directly upward. It is an absolutely gorgeous outdoor lighting effect on a brick, stone or stucco building as it brings out all of the details. It does not, however, work well on a siding due to the shadows it would create because the surface isn’t flat. Here’s a great image of grazing up-lighting from Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Birmingham. This outdoor lighting system in Hoover, AL included a wall that surrounded part of the outdoor living space. If you can pull your eyes away from the beautiful sunset through the window, take a look at the texture that the lighting brings out. That architectural detail of the space can now be admired at all times of the day and night.

Tree lighting is another popular form of up-lighting. As opposed to moonlighting in trees and the shadows it creates, the tree trunk and branches are the focal point in up-lighting trees. The outdoor lighting fixtures are installed near the base of the tree. Most of our clients enjoy the warm wash of light up the trees, but some have added a pale blue lens to for a more subtle look. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we’ve up-lit trees with dramatic results. For our clients who have clients bordering their outdoor living spaces, up-lighting trees is a great way to draw the eye outward and add interest to an otherwise dark surrounding. Take these beautiful trees for example, the installed up-lights make them stand out against the dark sky, adding visual interest to the space.

Depending on the structure, where it is located, and what surrounds it, up-lighting can also be used for fountain or statue lighting.

The key to all outdoor lighting design is using the right techniques, with the right fixtures, installed in the right place. The designer has to consider where the excess light will go and make sure that it does not shine into the home, a neighbor’s home or property, or into any of the areas that people gather in when entertaining. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we place temporary lights in place so that we can be sure that the system will look and perform exactly how intended.

If you have questions regarding outdoor lighting on your property, contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives office. Our trained lighting designers will create a beautiful system that you’ll enjoy night after night.

Outdoor Lighting Techniques: Moon Lighting

Two weeks ago I mentioned that we at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives would like to highlight some of the different outdoor lighting techniques that we often use when designing a custom outdoor lighting system for our clients. For us, outdoor lighting is all about the design. If the design isn’t good, whatever it’s lighting doesn’t look good either.

So what’s up today? Moon lighting.

Tree downlighting also known as moon lighting

Tree downlighting also known as moon lighting

Compared to other outdoor lighting techniques, moon lighting provides a much more subtle look as the light isn’t directly shined on a certain object, instead it is shined down through the branches and leaves of trees, mirroring the effects of the moon (hence the name). Moon lighting is great technique when it comes to projects that have a more natural feel, like a garden, golf course or backyard.

Many of our clients that end up with moon lighting don’t want the fixtures to be seen at all. Lighting fixtures, most commonly spotlights of varying sizes, are installed high up in the trees pointing downward. The wire can be run up the trunk of the trees and the fixtures can be drilled into the tree branches. The light beam shines downward through the branches, just like the light from the moon.

Because moon lighting is more difficult to install and maintain, we suggest using LED lamps in a warm white. LED lights last much longer than halogen or ceramic metal halide and when a tall ladder is needed to perform maintenance, LED lights will save the property owner a lot of money in maintenance costs.

For me, the best part of moon lighting is the beautiful effect it creates through the trees. Take look at the picture above, isn’t it romantic? The shadows are beautiful on the surrounding grounds and patios, just like it is intended.

If you have questions regarding different outdoor lighting techniques and what would work best for your property, contact your local Outdoor Lighting Perspectives designer.