Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Exterior Lighting: Energy Efficiency and Style | DirectBuy Home ...

Outdoor lighting fixtures should serve aesthetic and functional purposes for the backyard and front lawn. When talking about exterior lights, efficiency and style are probably the most important features for home owners.

Solar Energy Lighting Options

A great way to minimize the use of electricity for outdoor lighting is to install solar powered lighting fixtures. Small path lights are the most common solar landscape lighting fixtures available today. These compact fixtures are known as stake lights, and they operate completely on solar power. The stake lights are equipped with solar panels and cells that power small LED lightbulbs when darkness settles in. Solar powered lights eliminate any electrical wiring and they can be easily placed and removed anywhere in the ground. Solar stake lights may offer enough illumination all night long, as the charged solar cells can power the low watt LED light bulbs for up to ten hours.

Timers For Outdoor Lights

Another trick for saving money on exterior lighting costs is to install timers. Mechanical timers can be physically hardwired to multiple outdoor lighting fixtures that are powered by traditional electrical wires. The timers can be set to turn the landscape lights on and off at certain times. Many outdoor timers have heavy duty protective housings that can withstand tough conditions including precipitation.

Motion Sensors In Exterior Lights

Motion sensing technology allows for efficient use of outdoor lights. Motion sensors are commonly integrated into lighting fixtures that are mounted onto a garage or the entrance door of a home. The sensors have a functional range of dozens of feet, so they will turn on the lights as a car pulls up a driveway or as a person walks towards the entry door. Motion detector lights significantly use less energy because they are literally turned on only for several minutes. Depending on the brand, motion sensor outdoor lights are usually programmed to turn off a few minutes after detecting movement. Such outdoor lights should be tested to ensure that they actually detect movement and that they are mounted at the correct angle on the garage awning or home exterior wall.

Adding Aesthetic Appeal With Outdoor Lights

Outdoor lighting fixtures can add plenty of appeal to a home?s property because they are available in an array of styles. The lantern design is one of the most popular styles of outdoor lights. Lanterns can be either mounted to an exterior wall or supported by a free standing post that is secured to the ground. Lantern lights are typically made from durable metals such as iron, bronze, die-cast aluminum, steel, and other alloys. The metallic frame of the lantern is carved with intricate patterns and textures that provide classic appeal.

Outdoor lanterns have transparent or frosted type glass housings that may support a variety of light bulbs that vary in wattage rating, size, and illumination technology such as LED and CFL. The transparency of the glass housing will determine how much light will diffuse through. Lantern lighting fixtures are designed to provide plenty of illumination from a height, unlike the smaller path lights. The post style lantern fixtures are miniature versions of street lights commonly installed in busy urban settings. Such outdoor lights add plenty of sophistication to a homeowner?s property.

Cool And Fun Outdoor Lights

Novelty outdoor lights can add plenty of cool and fun character to your garden and front lawn. Novelty lights are available in a variety of interesting themes, and they are not reserved just for holiday use. Some novelty lights can be mounted onto exterior walls while others can hang off strings such as holiday lights.

When installing outdoor lighting fixtures, try to create the right balance between energy efficiency and style. Solar power, motion sensors, and timers can save you plenty of money on powering your outdoor lights.

DirectBuy offers a great selection of outdoor furnishings and accessories to help you create the ambiance you want for your outdoor areas. From comfortable patio furniture to outdoor lighting, you can buy quality products at DirectBuy and enjoy dealer direct pricing.

Tags: Direct Buy, DirectBuy, Landscape Lights, Outdoor Lighting, path lighting

Source: http://www.directhomediscount.com/blog/exterior-lighting/exterior-lighting-energy-efficiency-and-style/

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