Going green is nothing new. Everything from lighting fixtures to appliances are trying to be more ecofriendly in their production, shipping and sales. But energy consumption in the security and landscaping lighting part of your electrical system can be a big drain on your homes energy efficiency. Use this guide to going green with your landscape lighting and you’ll be sure to get an ecofriendly energy design that suits your needs and reduces your energy bills, all while helping to save the planet.
Sketching a Blueprint
Getting the most out of your outdoor light fixtures begins with creating an efficient design. Begin by sketching a rough blueprint of your outdoor lighting needs. It doesn’t have to be the best drawing as long as the measurements are accurate. This way, you can take you sketch to the nearest garden lighting store and ask for some hands on advice as to what lighting solutions are best for your yard. Make a few copies of your blueprint and you can pencil in your own designs until you find a happy medium between your needs, wants and budget.
Low Voltage
Low voltage lighting is a great way to get an energy efficient lighting system in your yard or garden without sacrificing on lighting needs. Low voltage lighting is perfect for walkways, garden paths, decks and sidewalks. These ground, railing and lamp post low voltage lights can be hooked together in multiple arrays to allow for a wide variety of controlling options. Some low voltage controllers offer timers, photosensitive switches and motion detectors to activate the lighting, saving on precious energy. Low voltage lighting fixtures are also easy to install yourself making them an affordable investment as well. Low voltage outdoor lightings biggest drawback is that it can be tough to get a powerful spotlight or security lighting without going up to a full voltage unit.
Solar Lighting
With the advent of modern technology, solar panels have increased in power absorption and decreased in size and cost, making solar powered outdoor lighting the lights of choice for outdoor areas seeped in sunshine. Solar powered lights are typically thought of as weak or dim, but many newer solar powered spot lights or lamp posts can burn brightly all night long on a single charge. Solar panels are commonly set in an area where sunlight is at its maximize exposure throughout the day while the actual light is placed where it is needed most. The only drawback about these solar powered security spotlights is that if your solar panel power cord isn’t long enough to reach the spotlight, then it’s not going to work efficient enough to justify its purchase.