Install Energy Efficient Solar Lighting Fixtures

Solar Lighting

Colder weather is on the way, but that shouldn't stop you from planning your landscape lighting system for the spring! Take advantage of the “let's stay in” weather by getting to know your low voltage lighting options or solar lighting landscape options.

Outdoor lighting is often overlooked, but it's an integral part of a beautiful outdoor space. How well lit are your walkways and pathways? Solar lighting landscape options include walk-on pavers, traditional post lights, and many others. There should be enough light to see the path clearly but not so much that it overpowers your hardscape elements. In short, make sure your lighting design fits with your overall landscape aesthetics.

Another benefit to solar lighting landscape fixtures is their energy efficiency and ease of installation. The solar panel gathers sunlight and transfers it as energy to the fixtures, leaving no need to run electrical wiring. Some solar fixtures even have built-in solar panels, meaning there aren't any wires at all!

For areas that require more “oomph” than solar lights often provide, a landscape lighting system often makes use of the versatility provided by low voltage lighting. It's easy to install because the cable can be run without or without using conduits, and it junction boxes aren't necessary. Transformers make the ease complete: there's little risk of electrical shock. Low voltage lighting fixtures come in all shapes, sizes, and applications and a landscape professional can help you choose just the right output and look for your space.

Checking out your options now will get you ahead of the game for your spring landscape lighting system plans.

Shining Some Light With Outdoor Landscape Lighting

When you hear the phrase outdoor landscape lighting, your first association is probably home security surveillance systems, or holiday spotlights on wreaths, but certainly not Hollywood. It turns out that the seemingly straightforward task of landscape lighting design is an art form in the movie world. This serious undertaking has direct ramifications on the entire narrative because of the degree of shaping done by light on the scene level. As with so many other cinematic production tools, audiences are largely oblivious to the manipulative effects landscape lighting; at least, if it’s done correctly. The design must achieve the delicate balance of directing viewers’ attention and emotions without obviously doing so, in order to give the plot and characters themselves most of the credit.

Because of the skill required to execute outdoor landscape lighting on a movie set, extensive thought and planning go into the job. A fun challenge for moviegoers is to consider these common tools for outdoor landscape lighting used on film, and then to watch for them in theatres next time the occasion arises. Nighttime scenes are particularly challenging for directors to navigate in terms of landscape lighting design, because of the twofold task of darkening the surroundings to a believable extent while maintaining sufficient light on the characters to illuminate what is happening. This dilemma is typically dissolved by using blue filters for the designated dark regions and yellow for the action, but on screen the colors do not appear this artificially enhanced.

The parallels between landscape lighting design for theatrical purposes as well as for home décor are interesting to consider and can provide insights into making the latter more of a game and less of a chore. When the rest of the world is treated as the audience, it is easier to identify objectives in what you want them to perceive, as well as potential evidence of artifice that you might have otherwise missed. And remember next time you’re at the movies to check if beam of light across the protagonist’s face is really coming from the moon.