Outdoor Lighting of Colorado's Blog » Lighting Control Automation

Outdoor Lighting Product Highlights – 2011 Colorado Fall Home Show

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:29:02 +0000

OLP of Colorado Exhibit

Just in case you missed the 2011 Colorado Fall Home Show, not to worry – I have included the highlights and a short video tour of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado’s exhibit including all of our new product introductions.

As an attention-getter, the new LED Snowfall lights were unequalled and they drew young and old alike.

LED Retrofit for Gas Lantern

The Solas Ray LED retrofit kit for gas and electric lanterns also drew a lot of interest as did the new Lighting Control Automation(TM) upgrade for internet-based lighting control with a SmartPhone or tablet.

For more information, please watch the short video tour below:

I hope that you enjoy the tour – and please contact us if you have any questions about these new products.

Come See Us at the 2011 Colorado Fall Home Show

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:06:09 +0000

The 2011 Colorado Fall Home Show is the only home show that is being held through the end of this year – so please come on down and visit the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado exhibit (#514) at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. Discounted coupons for attending the show are available by clicking here.

SHOW DATES AND HOURS

Friday, September 9 (10:00 am to 8:00 pm)
Saturday, September 10 (10:00 am to 8:00 pm)
Sunday, September 11 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm)

LED Snowfall Lights

Our exhibit will be showcasing the latest in holiday and Christmas lighting products (LEDs, snowfall lighting, kinetic laser, garland, etc.); smart phone and internet-based Lighting Control Automation(TM); and the latest in LED and halogen landscape/architectural lighting. In addition, we will also have an LED fixture on display that simulates the look of a gas carriage lighting fixture.

We hope to see you at the show – please stop by and say hello.

Is It Too Late to Add Deck Lighting to an Already-Built Deck?

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Fri, 20 May 2011 01:01:22 +0000

: Multi-Story Deck on Hillside in Douglas County, Colorado

That is a question that we at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) of Colorado are frequently asked this time of year as homeowners look forward to using and enjoying their outdoor spaces.

Our response is that it is never too late to add deck lighting. At a project that we completed this week, the homeowner wanted to have deck lighting installed in the back yard in addition to landscape and architectural lighting for the front yard.

The only existing lighting on the upper deck consisted of two unshielded line voltage carriage lights. When these lights were turned on, the glare ruined the entire ambience of the evening as well as the view of Castle Rock beyond. The homeowners requested the following:

They wanted three deck lights installed on each of the stucco columns on the upper deck.
They wanted to be able to control the deck lights manually via a switch inside the house – next to the door leading out to the upper deck.
They did not want to see any exposed wiring.
They wanted to have both automatic and manual control options for the landscape lighting in the front yard.

Our installation crew was able to open a small access hole at the bottom of the center column and at the top – and to successfully pull the low voltage wiring home run to the upper deck. From there, the connections to the other two deck lights could be made and wiring pulled to each of the deck light locations. In a few spots, the wiring was hidden at the base of the columns with moulding strips painted to match the stucco.

Deck Light Installed on Stucco Column

The final result looks like the lighting was installed at the same time as the deck – no visible wiring and no visible conduits. The deck lights were also painted to match the stucco after this photo was taken so that they would blend in to and become part of the column itself.

New Switch for Deck Lighting Is a Snap with LCA

Lastly, the manual control of the newly installed deck lights was easily accomplished through the use of OLP’s Lighting Control Automation™ (LCA). The low voltage transformer powering the deck lights was mounted under the lower deck – and on a different electrical circuit than the switches shown in the photo. The switch on the left side controls the carriage lights on the deck – and the switch on the right controls the lights in the dinette. The switch on the right side originally looked exactly the same as the one on the left.

In the photo, the switch on the right was replaced with one of our LCA intelligent switches (note the LED at top), and instead of a solid Decora switch plate – it is now split in half vertically. The left side now controls the dinette lights as before and the right side now controls the new deck lights. Through the use of LCA technology, the deck lighting switch sends a signal from this totally unrelated electrical circuit over to the circuit powering the transformer. It was as simple as that – no new extensive hard-wiring nor interior drywall/painting repairs were required to accomplish this.

So it’s never too late to add to add deck lighting to your outdoor spaces – and summer is right around the corner!

Colorado Garden and Home Show Is Less Than a Month Away

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:01:10 +0000

The 52nd annual Colorado Garden and Home Show is less than a month away. So plan on visiting with Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado to see the latest in outdoor landscape/architectural lighting, lighting control automation for energy savings and convenience, garden lighting, LED lighting fixtures, and do-it-yourself high-quality, customized lighting packages for the hands-on homeowner.

: Our Updated Home and Garden Show Exhibit

February 12 – 20, 2011

Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

Booth #1442

The Colorado Garden and Home Show with over 400,000 square feet of exhibit space, 45,000 square feet of gardens, over 600 exhibitors from 25 states and Canada, and 60,000 attendees during the nine-day show is the largest home and garden show between the Mississippi River and the west coast.

Stay tuned for more information about the show and our exhibit and products. We hope to see you there!

Not All “Green” Bulbs Are Dimmable

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:46:30 +0000

This past week we had a customer call to say that he had a problem with his control system. Apparently he has replaced his soffit light bulbs at his front entrance several times during the past month, and the bulbs keep burning out within a few days. His soffit lights are controlled by one of our automated LCA switches, and they turn on every evening at sunset at a power setting of 65-percent.

I had suspected that the customer had been using non-dimmable bulbs, and upon meeting up with our crew and removing the bulbs – our suspicions were confirmed. The bulb shown above is a standardly-used compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb (and available at all of the box stores), but clearly marked at its base are the words – … not for use with dimmers.

Before arriving at the site, I had purchased two replacement dimmable R30 flood bulbs that are dimmable - see photo below.

This 65-watt equivalent bulb uses only 15W of electricity, and when dimmed to the 65-percent power level it will be using less than 10W of power.

Ordinary incandescent bulbs are to be phased out in the U.S. by 2014 by an energy conservation act passed by Congress in 2007. In fact, the last GE factory making ordinary incandescent bulbs in the U.S. (Winchester, VA) closed last month.

As the incandescent bulbs continue to be phased out over the next several years, CFL’s will temporarily become their leading replacement, followed by halogen bulbs and finally LEDs. As everyone knows, LED’s are our long-term lighting future and that technology continues to become more efficient and less expensive as time goes on.

So in the short term, you’re doing a great thing by ridding your house and business of incandescent bulbs. Just remember though that you need to use dimmable CFL and LED bulbs in any circuit controlled by a dimmer.

Celebrate Earth Day Today!

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:30:13 +0000

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day today – April 22, 2010. I’m actually old enough to remember the first Earth Day when I was a sophomore at Penn State. Earth Day has certainly come a long way since then. Fortunately more and more people worldwide are beginning to live their lives and run their businesses as though Earth Day were every day of the year!

At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) of Colorado, we certainly emphasize the use of energy efficient lighting products such as low voltage quartz halogen, low voltage LED, line voltage Ceramic Metal Halide, line voltage induction fluorescent, and Lighting Control Automation™ for our residential and/or commercial customers. For interior lighting, Compact Fluorescents (CFLs) and LEDs are helping to greatly reduce homeowners’ energy usage as well.

Sometimes, even the little things add up. In OLP’s business operations we recycle copper wiring and the copper cores of low voltage transformers, stainless steel transformers, office papercardboard, and aluminum cans. For service calls and installations, we route and schedule our crews/vans to minimize travel time and mileage. To improve fuel economy, we off-load unnecessary inventory/tools and ladders on roof racks before heading off to that day’s job tickets.

To take part in Earth Day festivities being held this week in Colorado, please take a look and participate in the events shown below:

EARTH DAY 40TH ANNIVERSARY - NREL Visitors Center, Golden; April 19 – 23; free events during the week; www.nrel.gov

EARTH DAY ON EAST MOUNTAIN - 240 – 262 E. Mountain Avenue, Old Town Fort Collins; April 22. Block Party – celebrate Earth Day with live music/food, demos and presentations about growth and sustainability. www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=105316966166440&ref=ts

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS - 1007 York St., Denver; April 22; FREE DAY for Colorado residents; www.botanicgardens.org

EARTH DAY AT RED ROCKS - Saturday, April 24; Red Rocks Amphitheater; Morrison. Eco-friendly events – musical performance by Aspen Meadow, wolves from W.O.L.F. Sanctuary, clean up event at the park and environmental displays. www.windstarcoloradoconnection.org

PIKES PEAK EARTH DAY - Saturday April 24; Cornerstone Arts Center – Colorado College, Colorado Springs. Theme – 40 Years of Earth Day – ReVision, RePurpose, ReNew. www.Pikespeakearthday.org

EARTH FEST 2010 - Sunday, April 25; downtown Boulder – Central Park, Bandshell and Farmers Market. Eco activities/events – renewable energy demos, 5th Annual Dirt Day Advanced Challenge/EXPO, live music and organice food. www.earthfestboulder.net

So whether you celebrate at one of these events or by doing something for Mother Earth at home, have a good time and remember that Earth Day should be every day of the year!

Celebrate Earth Hour Today!

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:50:21 +0000

Tonight from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm in each local time zone around the world, supporters of the World Wildlife Federation’s annual EARTH HOUR campaign will turn off their lights to take a stand against global climate change. While the energy savings for this one-hour effort may be minimal, more important will be the global show of support by making a visual statement for the sustainability movement.

Started in Australia in 2007, EARTH HOUR’S support has grown worldwide and some of the most famous buildings will go dark for one hour during their local 8:30 to 9:30 pm time period including Toronto’s CN Tower, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Colisseum, and Paris’ Eiffel Tower.

In Colorado, both the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol building will go dark for one hour. Governor Bill Ritter said that Colorado has become a great example of how a state can implement aggressive energy reduction goals while growing a New Energy Economy. I am proud that Colorado can be a part of this worldwide effort to bring attention to the dire consequences of global climate change.

Please join Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado in supporting this worldwide effort. We of course are trying to do our part by reducing the energy/carbon footprints of both our residential and commercial lighting installations. By introducing and installing energy efficient LED lighting systems for residential applications as well as Lighting Control Automation™ - we are greatly reducing our customer’s usage of electricity. On the commercial side, we are installing energy efficient Ceramic Metal Halide fixtures.

Safe and Secure Entry

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:24:35 +0000

One of the lighting jobs we completed last week included additional work with our Lighting Control Automation™ (LCA) system. This particular lighting scenario is called Safe/Secure Entry.

This lighting control can be set up in a number of ways to give homeowners additional security when they arrive home after dark. For example, interior lights can be triggered to turn on as soon as the garage door opens after dark – but not during the daytime. Key fobs can also provide manual controls to a homeowner when approaching their home after dark.

In the following video by Winston Edwards (Outdoor Lighting Perspectives corporate factory in Nashville), the use of a key fob remote that turns on the driveway and interior lights after pulling into a standalone garage is demonstrated.

I hope that you enjoyed the LCA demonstration – I’ll be posting additonal videos in the near future.

Only 4 More Days to See the Colorado Garden and Home Show

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:20:05 +0000

Woolly Mammoth in Entrance Garden

There are only FOUR days remaining in the beautiful Colorado Garden and Home Show. You can begin your day at the show in the entrance garden where ice age creatures such as the woolly mammoth and ancient tigers come to life. Stroll the magnificent gardens and see the sights and aromas of spring as you take in the 400,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Colorado Convention Center.

Please be sure to save some time to visit the 9News Hot Products Zone which is located at the top of the escalators near the show entrance. There you will see the nine latest and greatest gardening and home improvement products – including the LED landscape lighting line by Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado.

Our exhibit is located in booth #1442 - and there you can see the LED lighting fixtures up close as well as the latest in low voltage quartz halogen fixtures, line voltage Ceramic Metal Halide fixtures, and Lighting Control Automation™.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado Exhibit - Booth #1442

We certainly look forward to seeing you at the show!

COME SEE US AT THE COLORADO FALL HOME SHOW

outdoorlightingofcolorado — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:49:41 +0000

Come visit us at the upcoming Colorado Fall Home Show - Booth #717 at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver – September 19th and 20th. Saturday hours are from 10:00 AM through 8:00 PM and Sunday hours are from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

This Fall Show – Denver’s only fall home show – will feature almost 300 companies with a focus on home renovation, remodeling, and sustainable living. The show also features two demonstration theaters offering educational seminars provided by experts in sustainability, energy efficiency, interior design, remodeling and cooking.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado will be displaying and launching its newest low-voltage LED landscape/architectural lighting fixtures and products. These are the first LED products that meet OLP’s hgh standards for quality lighting effect as well as durability.

In addition, permanent and more traditional LED holiday lighting products will be on display, as well as a new truly unique LED ribbon lighting product that is the only UL-approved LED ribbon available today that is suitable for a wet location.

Of course, our standard low voltage quartz halogen fixtures, ceramic metal halide commercial fixtures, and Lighting Control Automation™ will also be on display for your review and/or questions. We hope to see you there!

Mead and Cathy Noss