Energy-saving lights: options for outdoor lighting

Provided by Networx.com

When it comes to lighting, consumers have hundreds if not thousands of choices. While many of these lights use traditional incandescent bulbs, the use of LEDs and compact fluorescent bulbs are becoming standard practice. Price can run from $10 to hundreds. Style can vary from rustic to over-the-top contemporary.

Outdoor lighting is not that much different than interior lighting. The main difference lies in the weatherproof nature of the lights housing or its configuration. Another element in outdoor lighting is the use of low-voltage lights. Compared to line voltage lights, low-voltage light systems are often installed by the homeowner, which can be a great cost benefit to hiring and bringing in a full fledged electrical contractor.

Types of Low-Voltage Outdoor Lights

Area lights: These lights illuminate larger areas, like a front porch.

Spot lighting: Got a really cool sculpture or exotic plant in your yard? Spot lighting can bring it to life.

Flood lighting: This is the big brother to the spot light. Flood lights can wash entire walls or groups of plants and other garden features.

Step lighting: Nothing will wake someone up quicker than a tumble down a few stairs. Aside from spilling your evening beveragebumps and bruises are never any fun.

In years past nearly every one of these low voltage lights would have be supplied with a heat generating, inefficient incandescent bulb. Today many of these are equipped with compact florescent or LED technology.

Thinking Outside of the Box (or Bulb)

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Energy-saving lights: options for outdoor lighting