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lighting
Outdoor Lighting - Showcase your Home at Night!
Outdoor lighting
A great way to showcase your home at night and to create security
is through landscape lighting. The yard doesn't have to be minimally
lit nor blasted with harsh light. Security lighting helps prevent
vandalism and crime and lets you see what's going on.
Try motion detectors and infrared sensors to deter intruders as
well as provide security light when you need it. Add decorative
fixtures outside to accent a particular object or area, and create
mood lighting by choosing fixtures that create uplighting, downlighting
and backlighting.
Want lighting that costs less and is energy-efficient? Learn more
and see what's new in low voltage and solar lighting, (see below).
What's Available?
Finding your way through the world of outside lighting can be daunting,
let's simplify.
Before you decide what fixtures you're going to use outside, you'll
need to have an energy source.
The 4-most commonly used sources of power for residential exterior
lighting are:
1) Solar lights
2) Low voltage, 12volt current
3) Line voltage, 120volt current
4) Gas lamps
Solar Lighting:
Without the need for a transformer, wire, or cables, solar lights
are the easiest of all outdoor lights to install. They have also
gotten much better in recent years and now provide brighter illumination
and dependability. Because LED bulb technology continues to improve,
you will find growing selection in this niche.
Here are a few of our favorite solar fixtures:
Solar stepping stones
Solar flood/spot lights
Low Voltage (12 Volts):
For the landscape low voltage fixtures can beautifully illuminate
the garden at night.
Low voltage lighting
is energy efficient and you can find a complete selection, including:
pathlights, area lights, spotlights, floodlights, well lights, step
lights, deck and patio lights, hanging lights and barbeque lights.
Shopping for quality low voltage fixtures? Choose from brands:
Arroyo Craftsman, Focus,
Hinkley, Hadco, Unique, Nightscaping, FX Luminaire and Kichler.
Stay away from Malibu fixtures you'll end up replacing them.
Line Voltage (120 Volts)
Many outdoor lighting fixtures
for the front of the home, and the home in general, run on 120 volt
currents.
Popular lighting manufacturers: Arroyo Craftsman, Kichler, Hinkley,
Progress, (along with many others) produce decorative post and wall
mount lanterns, exterior pendants, sconces, and outdoor ceiling
fixtures. These fixtures are designed to illuminate the front porch,
walkway and entrance to your house.
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