Celebrate Earth Day Tomorrow – and Every Day!

Posted on April 21, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Earth Day 2011Celebrate the 41st anniversary of Earth Day tomorrow – April 22. Because Earth Day this year falls on a holiday weekend, some communities have decided to celebrate it on previous weekends or schedule events throughout the months of April and May. Most communities are holding recycling events or environmental clean up events to prevent hazardous materials and valuable reusable materials from unnecesarily taking up valuable space in our landfills.

Last week I attended a training class (more later) at our company headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. While there we learned how we can help reduce energy usage for commercial lighting (parking garages, parking lots, building lighting) by 50 percent with new technology. Homeowners are doing their part by replacing inefficient incandescent bulbs with energy-saving LEDs and compact fluorescent (CFL bulbs).

Here are some of the Earth Day events along the Colorado front range.

Denver Earth Day Event – www.denvergov.org/EarthDay; Friday April 22; 10 am – 2 pm; Greek Theater at Civic Center Park

Colorado Springs Earth Day – Free Rides – Friday April 22. Free rides on Mountain Metro, FrontRange Express; and Ute Pass Express.

Earth Day Fort Collins – www.sustainablelivingassociation.org/earth-day-2011 ; Civic Center Park; Saturday April 23, 11 am – 5 pm.

Filed under: Bulb Technology, Commercial Lighting, Community Events, Green Energy, Residential Lighting | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

From day to night – lighting done right

Posted on April 20, 2011 by 33social

One of the things we offer is a free nighttime demonstration so that you actually get to see what a particular lighting design will look like for your home and property – prior to an installation.  That eliminates all of the guesswork and surprises – and you will know exactly how much you will have to invest to achieve that desired lighting effect.

Most of our typical lighting installations in Colorado range in price between $3,500 and $6,500. Not surprisingly, most homeowners have no idea how many lights they may need or want – or what their investment range might be until we do the evening lighting demonstration.  And that’s perfectly OK because we do not want you to purchase a lighting system sight unseen.

Additionally, we do our nighttime demonstration for these other reasons:

  • It is your house, not our’s – and you know best how you would like to have your house and property illuminated in the evening.
  • Exact placement of the fixtures can be determined in order to safely light steps and other hazards, and to effectively light architectural features.
  • We can show you several different lighting options that you may not have considered previously.
  • The evening lighting demonstration is an event that your entire family can participate in and provide input to the lighting design.

Here is what you will see.

 

Outdoor lighting Colorado before and after
Outdoor lighting Colorado before and after

Filed under: Free outdoor lighting demonstration, Garden Lighting, Home-Community Security/Safety, Residential Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

We service other lighting systems

Posted on April 4, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado
Colorado outdoor lighting service and maintenance

We service other lighting systems - Colorado outdoor lighting

You have a conundrum. You know your existing lighting system is not doing what it should. But, you’ve invested too much money in it to just scrap it. There could be a third option. Perhaps an outdoor lighting professional could service the system and either make some adjustments or perhaps make some small additions to get the lighting system where you want it to be. The good thing is the call and visit are free. Let us take a look at your system that’s not up to where you want it to be and we will make some recommendations about what can be done to fix it or make it better.

Filed under: Maintenance and Service | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

My Landscaper Did My Landscape Lighting But It’s Never Worked Right

Posted on March 23, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Inferior Quality Low Voltage Bulb

I certainly do not want to pick on landscapers, but one of the most frequently heard comments at the recent Colorado Garden and Home Show was – my landscaper did my lighting but it’s never worked right.

During the last two weeks, I evaluated two lighting systems that coincidentally had exactly the same fixtures.  The low voltage path lights were manufactured by a well-known national lighting manufacturer that had rolled out a lower-priced line of fixtures for landscapers to use. The path lights use the incandescent T5 wedge-base bulbs that have an average life of only 500 to 1,000 hours. In addition, the manufacturer states that these fixtures are rated for damp locations (somewhat sheltered from the weather) instead of wet locations (snow, rain, sleet, etc.). The fixtures have no lenses to protect either the bulb or the socket from moisture, moths, and spider webs – and that degrades the bulb life even further.

Making the situation in both installations even worse is the fact that the installers used the daisy chain method of installation – that’s when numerous fixtures are connected in series one after the other on the same circuit. Invariably with that wiring technique, the installer typically sets the voltage higher than it should be to ensure that the light at the very end of the circuit receives enough voltage to light up. What that also means is that the first light in the series is receiving 14, 15, or 18 volts – and since the bulbs are only rated at 12V – the first bulb starts burning out very quickly causing a domino effect down the line.

In one of the locations, the landscaper installed over a dozen step lights in poured concrete steps and patios – and it appears that no sleeves had been installed so that the system could be rewired if necessary. More problematic is the fact that as the concrete continues to cure over time, it will react with and break down the protective insulation and eventually corrode the wiring.

Outdoor lighting systems can last a lifetime if high quality products are used and professionally installed – and it’s very disconcerting to see a beautifully landscaped yard with an inferior lighting system. Sometimes we can come up with a cost-effective solution for the homeowner to remedy the lighting system – but sometimes we almost have to start from the beginning.

Filed under: Choosing the Right Lighting Contractor, Installation Techniques, Residential Lighting | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Landscape Architects Select Lighting as Top Outdoor Living Feature for 2011

Posted on March 2, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Landscape Lighting Makes Outdoor Living Spaces Warm and Inviting

A recently published survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects asked residential landscape architecture professionals to rank the relative popularity of a wide variety of design features to be included in outdoor living spaces in 2011.  Lighting was selected by 96.2% of the landscape architects, making it the most popular feature to be included in upcoming outdoor living projects. Ranked below lighting were fire pits/fireplaces, seating/dining areas, barbecue grills, and installed seating. Based on our experience, we know that most homeowners also need landscape lighting after dark to safely reach their outdoor firepits and seating areas, and to have adequate  lighting for both barbecuing and dining outdoors.

Landscape lighting not only makes your outdoor setting warm and inviting but it also allows you to enjoy your outdoor oasis from day into evening.

Filed under: Design, Garden Lighting, Home-Community Security/Safety, Residential Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Don’t scrap your old outdoor lighting fixtures for LED. Call us for a retrofit.

Posted on February 24, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

A lot of people stopped by our booth at the Colorado Garden & Home show asking if we can retrofit existing outdoor lighting fixtures with LED bulbs. The good news is – yes we can! The great news is the energy savings can be up to 90%. For example, standard path lights use a 20 watt quartz halogen bulb. We can replace that with 2 watt LED bi-pin bulb with energy savings of 90%. Watch this video to learn more.

Filed under: Bulb Technology, Green Energy, LEDs | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

See Our Lights at the Colorado Garden and Home Show

Posted on February 13, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado
OLP’s Exhibit Showcasing the Latest in LEDs

The 52nd Annual Colorado Garden and Home Show started yesterday, and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is proud to be making its 12th appearance in this important show.  Our exhibit is centrally located in the Colorado Convention Center Exhibit Hall in booth # 1442.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Showcases the Latest in Internet-Based Lighting Control Automation(TM)

Several new products and services are being launched at this show including new internet-based Lighting Control Automation™, new LED products and LED retrofits, Do-It-Yourself Kits, and Lighting Energy Audits/Retrofits for both the residential and commercial markets. We can show you how to have beautiful outdoor and indoor lighting, while decreasing your carbon footprint and your monthly electric bills.

Residential and Commercial Lighting Products on Display at the Colorado Garden and Home Show

The show continues for eight more days – through Sunday, February 20th. With the 60-degree weather expected to last through much of this week, now is the time to start planning your outdoor projects for the upcoming year. So enjoy the show and we look forward to seeing you at the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives exhibit.

Filed under: Commercial Lighting, Community Events, Do-It-Yourself Lighting, Garden Lighting, Green Energy, Home-Community Security/Safety, Installation Techniques, LEDs, Residential Lighting | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Garden Lighting Looks Great 365 Days a Year

Posted on January 22, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Garden path light with melting snow

With only 56 days until the first day of spring, I thought that it was worth mentioning that garden lighting looks great regardless of the season of the year. Most homeowners are afraid that garden lighting will make their yards look ugly during the non-growing seasons – but nothing can be further from the truth. Having grown up in Pennsylvania, I always loved seeing the deciduous trees and shrubs in winter because of the ever-changing beauty of both the branch structures and bark textures. The interplay of light and shadows that can be created by garden lighting is truly magnificent after a new snowfall, in the spring with flowering trees and shrubs, in the summer with trees and shrubs under full-leaf , and of course in the fall with multi-color leaves. Once the landscaping and the lighting have been installed, mother nature provides the ever-changing and exciting palette of colors and hues for a homeowner’s enjoyment.

Colorado Outdoor Lighting Path Light

Path Light after a Snow Storm

Garden lighting can be used to illuminate a pathway to reach a gazebo, a fire pit, or patio – or be used to illuminate a prized flower bed with colorful annual and/or perennial flowers. Sometimes a focal point of garden lighting will be a water feature, koi pond, or a piece of sculpture. And in Colorado, garden lighting helps to provide safety and security after dark for both young children and pets especially with the prevalence of coyotes, mountain lions, and bears.

Path Light – Summertime

With any good lighting design, the important thing is to not flood the area with light but to carefully highlight only the parts of the garden that are interesting aesthetically or are needed for safety – pathways, steps, etc. The lighting designer is basically an artist who is “painting” with light – and he or she with the homeowner’s input can choose to include anything on the blank lighting “canvas” in order to complete a compelling masterpiece that will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Colorado Outdoor Path Lighting
Garden lighting for gazebo, rock wall and trees.

In Colorado, homeowners love their rocks – character moss rocks, rock walls, massive red rock outcroppings, and huge granite boulders in the mountains. Hey – they don’t call this the Rocky Mountains for no good reason! Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) of Colorado has illuminated rocks and boulders of all sizes – and it helps to add three-dimensionality and interest to any garden lighting design.

Filed under: Design, Garden Lighting, Residential Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Colorado Garden and Home Show Is Less Than a Month Away

Posted on January 18, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

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!

Filed under: Community Events, Design, Do-It-Yourself Lighting, Green Energy, LEDs, Lighting Control Automation, Residential Lighting | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

What Is the Best Lighting Design for Outdoor Steps?

Posted on January 11, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

     The answer to that and just about any other lighting design question is that it just depends. While that answer may not be satisfying to most homeowners, it’s the best answer that we can provide until we’ve fully evaluated the site and have fully understood how the homeowner intends to use the space after dark.

Typical Recessed Step Light

     Most homeowners immediately think that the commonly used step lights shown at left are the easiest and best way to illuminate the stairs leading to their deck or raised patio. With any good lighting design, however, the final design should be based on the bulb itself and resulting lighting effect. In other words, the fixture selection and type should actually come last in the design process.
     These lighting fixtures are relatively easy to install on a wood or Trex deck – either during or after construction. However, if the lights need to be installed in poured concrete steps, then a lot of pre-planning needs to be done before the new steps go in.
     During the last twelve years we have been in business, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado has only installed a handful of recessed step lights. The primary reason for that is because there is a much better way to proper illuminate the steps for after-dark safety – and that design effect is commonly called downlighting or sconce lighting.

Entrance to Property Requiring Proper Lighting for Steps

     We recently completed a lighting installation at a home built in the 1920s near the Governors Mansion in Denver. The property is accessed from the public sidewalk through a large wrought iron gate. To reach the upper terrace and front entrance to the home, you can access the steps immediately to the left or right side of the gate. With an existing and historical home with stone and concrete work quickly approaching one-hundred years old, the last thing you would want to even consider would be recessed step lighting. The good news is that installing these  copper BB08 sconce lights is much easier and they provide much better lighting as well. A close up of the completed installation is shown below.

Close Up of Completed Sconce Light Installation

     That being said, there have been a few occasions where recessed step lighting was our only option for providing any lighting to steps. In those situations, the steps from side to side were over ten feet wide, with no handrails or any other possible location to mount any sconce lights. In that situation, we made sure that we installed at least three step lights on each riser so that the steps could be safely illuminated. 

     The last photo shows the lighting effect of these copper BB08 sconce lights (made in the USA at our factory in Nashville) on a deck with many steps among the pines.

Deck Lighting and Step Lighting Among the Pines

Filed under: Design, Home-Community Security/Safety, Installation Techniques, Residential Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »