If you are currently using traditional or even low voltage outdoor lighting to provide light to your yard and landscaping at night, chances are that you are already well aware of the costs associated with that. Outside of the fact that this type of lighting uses up valuable and expensive electricity, it also requires a certain amount of hardware that not everybody is equipped to install. Many times you will need the assistance of an electrician or other hired professional.
For those out there who want to save money on not only their electric bill, but hired help as well, and make their little contribution toward saving the environment at the same time, solar outdoor lighting is the perfect thing to consider for your landscape lighting needs.
Electrical landscape lighting runs through wires in the ground and plugs, similar to the way that the lighting works inside your home. Solar lighting is different; it is lit using the energy that it absorbs from the power of the sun. Solar power is absorbed through panels, usually located in the top of the light fixtures. This power is what is used to create the light that you see at night, and it looks and works just like electrical lights except for the fact that the power is free to you and completely safe for the environment.
Many people avoid solar powered lighting because they feel like their options are limited as far as style is concerned. At one time, that was absolutely true. But now that the retail industry has realized what a high demand there is for environmentally friendly products, more and more solar lights are made with your individual style in mind. This means that there are nearly as many options for solar fixtures as there are for traditional lighting fixtures. And although the actual lights themselves may be a tad bit more expensive you save money on installation in the immediate and money on your light bill in the long run. What more could you ask for?
With the many options available to you and the many advantages to having such lighting around your home, what else is there stopping you from investing in solar outdoor lighting for your home? This is by far the safest and most economical and Mother Nature-approved way of lighting your home to date. Even if you don’t get sun all day every day, you may still be able to benefit from the use of such lighting as the fixtures are designed to take advantage of solar energy when it is available. You never have to worry about turning them off and you don’t have to worry about electrical hazards, either. And installation is as easy as placing them where you want them to be. Go ahead and invest in solar outdoor lighting and light up your world!
By: Ned D'Agostino
Posts Tagged ‘Lighting Fixtures’
Solar Outdoor Lighting – The Perfect Choice To Light Up The Night
March 30th, 2010Here We Are, Discussing the Many Moods of Commercial Lighting
March 22nd, 2010
Commercial lighting encompasses a lot of different types of lighting. From high bays to low bays, wall packs to flood lights, ceiling fixtures, garden fixtures, barn lights and more. Commercial lights cover all lighting fixtures and types that are used for anything other than residential lighting applications.
Before delving into the market of commercial lighting, you should make sure you are aware of some of the common terms that are to be found there. Let’s first talk about candlepower. Candlepower refers to the brightness of the light. It is a measure of brightness that is adjusted to the select sensitivity of the human eye.
CRI stands for Color Rendering Index. This is an important factor that determines how surrounding colors will look when bathed in the light bulb’s light.
Light is the frequencies of radiation given off by the sun that we are able to pick up with our eyes. An example of radiation that we cannot see with our eyes is ultraviolet and infared radiation.
The light bulb refers to the light source, which is contained within the shaped glass. The lamp is the light bulb and all of the hardware that assists with mounting, positioning and framing the light bulb. However, it should be noted that in some industries, the light bulb is referred to as a lamp, and the assembly that contains it is called a fixture.
Lumens is a term that is often used but sometimes misunderstood. Let’s talk about the human eye for a moment. The eye is more sensitive to some colors than it is to others. Lumens are a measurement of light, in which the amount of radiation that is present is taken into account and then adjusted to the human eye’s selectiveness. A good example is having a room illuminated by an ultraviolet light. Because we cannot see ultraviolet rays, the lumens measurement would be zero.
Fluorescent lighting is a very popular choice in commercial lighting, because they are incredibly efficient. So while they may be a little more expensive to initially purchase, they make up for the added expense by saving on energy: they use around 80 lumens per watt, which is a big difference from incandescent lights, which often use only 10 to 12 lumens per watt. Better still, fluorescent commercial lighting can have a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours. This number has doubled since only fifteen years ago! While these are definite advantages, some of the disadvantages to using this type of commercial lighting include the large size of the bulbs and lamps, and the higher cost of this type of lighting.
By: Kimberly Green
Bathroom Sconce Lighting – The Latest Trend In Bathroom Fixture
March 10th, 2010
There are different kinds of lighting available today. Aside from the usual ceiling type variety that uses fluorescent or halogen technology, the designs also varies according to its general location. We have recessed lighting, desk lamps, and wall lamps. All of these are basic lighting styles of the modern home, but the sconce type stands out in the latest trend.
What Are Sconces?
Sconce is a kind of light fixture that is of the wall variety where the light is directed upwards. The light source is protected or covered with a bowl-like design which allows the light to be directed upward. This provides a low intensity, dim lighting suited for hallways, passageways, corridors, and so on. The sconce lighting is usually placed three-fourths of the distance between the wall and the ceiling for it to provide adequate lighting.
Sconces In The Bathroom
Modern archaic designs incorporate sconce lighting into bathrooms, due to its ability to provide enough lighting to set the proper mood. In truth, not all activities done in bathrooms require bright lighting fixtures. Either taking a relaxing shower or a restful soak in the tub, the dim lights would really make for a relaxing and peaceful mood.
Scone Lighting Design
The design and material used in your sconce lighting can vary depending on the motif that you plan to incorporate into your bathroom. For starters, wall sconce styles available are Art Deco, Asian, contemporary, country, crystal, early American, mission or religious, old world, retro (50’s or 60’s), rustic or lodge, southwester design, tiffany, traditional, tropical, Victorian, and the fun-filled whimsical style.
If you want a more dramatic and natural feel, then some sconces are hand-made with materials from ceramic and porcelain. These two materials can exude a natural ambience to your bathroom, as well as fit with most bathroom furniture and fixtures.
Traditional sconce designs direct the light upward, and the styles for this are usually medieval or Victorian. If you want to go for the modern touch, wall sconces can provide bi-directional lighting, upwards and downwards. Note, however, that this kind of designs provides more light quantity than the traditional ones.
It is true that scone lighting fixtures can indeed give your bathroom an elegant and luxurious quality, but this requires planning in advance so that you can maximize its style and designs to the fullest.
By: Tim Lee
