Come See Us at the 2016 Colorado Garden & Home Show

Posted on February 9, 2016 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

The 2016 Colorado Garden and Home Show is less than a week away2006 Colorado Garden and Home Show Label! For the 17th year in a row, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado will be exhibiting our latest outdoor/landscape lighting designs and products. Stop by our exhibit (Booth #1442) to see the latest energy-saving LED lighting products that will beautify your home and property, make them more safe and secure, and extend your outdoor living hours well into the evening.

2016 Colorado Garden & Home Show; Colorado Convention Center, Denver

Saturdays:   Feb. 13th &  Feb. 20th         –    10:00 AM to 8:00 PM &nbsp
Sundays:      Feb. 14th & Feb. 21st           –    10:00 AM to 6:00 PM &nbsp
Mon. – Fri.   Feb. 15 through Feb. 19th   –    12 Noon to 8:00 PM

Booth #:       1442

In the next few days, we will also be posting a $2.00 Off Discount Coupon for use in purchasing a ticket. We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Mead Signature

 

Filed under: Architectural Lighting, Community Events, Design, Green Energy, Landscape Lighting, LEDs, Lighting Control Automation, Residential Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

LED Landscape Lights Celebrate Earth Day Every Day of the Year… for Many Years!

Posted on April 20, 2013 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

earth-day-bigThis Spring we exhibited at two garden and home shows. Almost every attendee who stopped by to speak with us said that if they’re going to invest in a landscape lighting system, it had to be LEDs.

Earth Day 2013 is being celebrated on Monday, April 22nd – and with LED landscape lighting, you can be sure that you are doing your part to lower your carbon footprint on the planet not just on Earth Day, but during the rest of the year as well.

# of Halogen 35W PAR36 Bulbs Required for One Fixture in 11 Years

# of Halogen 35W PAR36 Bulbs Required for One Fixture in 11 Years

LED bulbs are green for a number of reasons, including the fact that they use on average 75- to 83-percent less energy than the comparable halogen bulb. LED bulbs also last longer (50,000 hours) compared to halogens (3,000 – 4,000 hours).  During an 11-year period of time, a single well light in a landscape lighting system  could use as many as 15 bulbs (shown in the photo at right) – and unfortunately all of them would find their way to a local landfill. We tried unsuccessfully to find a recycler who would accept glass halogen bulbs, but unfortunately there is no economical way today to recycle these bulbs. As a result, no one recycles them.

# of LED 6W PAR36 Bulbs Needed for One Fixture in 11 YearsWith LED bulbs, there are no defective parts being sent to the landfill annually, or ever. The bulbs can be returned to the factory to be rebuilt every 11 years or so, or the individual components can be recycled. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for the homeowner and Mother Earth.

Because the LEDs are more reliable, fewer service visits are required resulting in fewer vehicle miles and carbon emissions. One scheduled maintenance visit each year will ensure that LED landscape lighting systems continue to operate perfectly for many, many years to come.

With the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives line of products, the standard halogen fixtures can be retrofitted to LED. In other words, we’re re-purposing the fixtures to LED, we’re not requiring the homeowner to buy all new fixtures. Brand-new LED landscape lighting systems also require considerably  smaller low voltage transformers and much less low voltage copper wiring than their halogen counterparts.

Whether we’re retrofitting a landscape lighting system to LED or installing a new LED system, we’ve been finding that the payback period for the investment (compared to halogen) occurs in a very reasonable timeframe (anywhere between one and four years typically). In a retrofit system, the primary factors are energy and maintenance cost savings. In a new system, the primary factors are component/labor cost savings (smaller transformer and less wire, less labor time), as well as the energy and maintenance cost savings.

For more information about Earth Day events in your area, please check the following:

Have a Happy Earth Day!

Mead Signature

Filed under: Community Events, Green Energy, Landscape Lighting, LEDs, Lighting Retrofits | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

LED Makeover – the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Way

Posted on June 29, 2012 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

LED Replacement for Path Lights

In a recent blog posting, I mentioned that we were retrofitting one of our customer’s low voltage quartz halogen landscape lighting systems to LED. We originally installed the system in June 2001. Our Outdoor Lighting Perspectives’ (OLP) copper BB-07 path lights manufactured by our factory (B&B Manufacturing in Nashville) had used the 20W quartz halogen G6 bi pin bulbs with corresponding sockets. The retrofit is as simple as sliding out the old socket and wiring harness and replacing it with the new LED (4W Cree), electronics, driver, and wiring harness assembly.  

With the introduction of OLP/B&B’s PAR36 LED (6W Cree) bulb retrofit earlier this year, our company can now offer customers a truly sustainable way to upgrade to this new, energy-saving technology – without having to discard the old quartz halogen fixtures. The customer’s system that we recently converted to LED was initially installed in 2001. That system included a total of 17 fixtures – eleven 35W quartz halogen well lights and six 20W quartz halogen path lights, for a total power usage of 505W. For the new installation/retrofit, we added 11 new LED fixtures to the 17 existing fixtures that we retroffited, for a total power usage of 176W. Interestingly, we increased the size of the system (total number of lights) by 65-percent while at the same time we reduced the energy usage by 65-percent.

PAR36 LED Bulb

Heat is the number one factor that can adversely affect the life of an LED. As you can see in the design for the PAR36 LED bulb as well as the path light LED replacement, the thermal heat sinks are a prominent part of the final manufactured product. As a former aerospace engineer who performed thermal analyses of jet and rocket engine, high-energy laser, and orbital spacecraft, I wholeheartedly give these products a two-thumbs up sign of approval.

The other important thing about these LED retrofits is that our customers are in no way sacrificing the actual lighting effect. In fact, our factory (B&B) conducted an experiment by taking nighttime photos of the same house. On one evening, the lighting fixtures had quartz halogen bulbs installed and on another evening, the fixtures had been retrofitted to LED. Interestingly, most people viewing the sets of photos side by side guessed wrong. The LEDs actually looked better.

 

 

 

Filed under: Green Energy, Landscape Lighting, LEDs, Lighting Retrofits, Residential Lighting | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado Is A Certified ReDirect Guide Green Business

Posted on May 26, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado has been certified by and included in the online and print versions of the ReDirect Guide – the Denver/Boulder/Fort Collins regional guide to green businesses, resources, information and discounts. Each company selected for the Guide is personally screened by a ReDirect Guide staff person to ensure that its products and company practices are truly green. We’re certainly proud to offer our customers the latest in energy savings lighting (LED, induction fluorescent) as well as lighting energy audits.

You can pick up a print copy (on recycled paper) at these Colorado front range locations. The Guide contains a wealth of information on green products and services for your home and business, as well as upcoming environmentally conscious community events. In addition, the directory also contains a section of educational articles – and OLP of Colorado was proud to have sponsored the article on LED Outdoor Lighting that can be found on page 85.

OLP of Colorado is listed under two categories in the Guide – Energy Audits on page 168 and Landscape Contractors on page 203. We’re truly proud to be a part of this Colorado green directory – the longest running certified sustainable business network in Colorado.

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

What Has Twice the Life and Half the Price of LEDs?

Posted on May 4, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado
2011 CAI Colorado Trade Show

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Colorado launched its line of induction fluorescent lighting fixtures and retrofits last week at the CAI Colorado Trade Show. In case you were unable to attend the show, I have included photos and a video about our exhibit and the exciting energy saving possibilities with induction lighting.

OLP of Colorado Exhibit at CAI Trade Show

A few attendees to the show had previously heard about this new induction fluorescent technology. However, most of the attendees who stopped by our exhibit were amazed by the 100,000 life of these induction lamps.

Induction Fluorescent Lights

They were also pleasantly surprised to learn that currently induction lights have twice the life and half the price of LEDs. When fixtures are hard to reach easily (wall packs on the sides of condo buildings or street lights through a community), maintenance costs become problematic – and having a fixture with a 100,000-hour lamp life becomes very attractive. Our corporate commercial lighting website has been updated to include energy lighting audits and retrofits – Switch Your Lights – and locally we have been approved and listed in the ReDirect Guide for green and sustainable businesses and products.

For more information, please watch the following video from the show:
 

Filed under: Commercial Lighting, Community Events, Green Energy, Home-Community Security/Safety, Induction Fluorescent, Park Lighting | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

Come See Us at the CAI Spring Showcase & Trade Show

Posted on April 26, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Come see us at the 2011 CAI Spring Showcase & Trade Show – Friday April 29th from 7 am to 4 pm (Booth # 104) at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum – 7711 E. Academy Blvd. in Denver. The theme of this year’s event is Traveling Through Time with Your HOA.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) of Colorado will be exhibiting the latest in ceramic metal halide, LED, and induction fluorescent lamp/fixture technology for a wide range of typical HOA lighting applications including area lighting (street, park, walkway); signage/monument lighting; and stairwell/building lighting.

The new induction fluorescent technology offers increased performance life (up to 100,000 hours) with dramatically lower operational (up to 50-percent energy savings) and maintenance costs. Further, it offers a vast improvement over High-Intensity Discharge (HID) fixtures with respect to nighttime visibility and color rendering.

One of the new programs that OLP of Colorado is offering is a Free Energy Savings Assessment – so that HOA’s and building owners can assess retrofit and replacement payback periods for different lamp technologies. So if you are involved with a community or an HOA, please plan to stop by and see us.

Filed under: Bulb Technology, Ceramic Metal Halide, Commercial Lighting, Community Events, Energy Audits, Green Energy, Home-Community Security/Safety, Induction Fluorescent, LEDs, Lighting for Recreation, Maintenance and Service, Park Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Come See Us at the CAI Spring Showcase & Trade Show

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Launches New Commercial Lighting Program

Posted on April 26, 2011 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

Induction Fluorescent Retrofits

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of attending a new and exciting commercial lighting training class at our company headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. The class focussed on new “green” lighting technologies (LED and induction fluorescent) for commercial applications such as area lighting (street, park, walkway, etc.), parking garage lighting, and wall and warehouse lighting. Almost all of these lighting applications can be found at apartment/townhome communities, business parks, parking garages, auto dealerships, warehouses, restaurants, etc.

Our company will be offering Free Energy Savings Assessments (Lighting Energy Audit/Payback Period) – and show how replacing outdated outdoor lamps (especially High-Intensity Discharge (HID) (high pressure sodium, metal halide) lamps) with our new LED and induction fluorescent retrofits can save a client up to 50% in their electrical bills.

Induction flourescent lighting has an extremely long performance life of up to 100,000 hours (over 22 years!) – that’s 5 to 8 times longer than the typical HID lamps. This technology offers a very high system efficiency with dramatically lower electrical bills and operational maintenance costs, and much better nighttime visibility. Additionally, federal government tax deductions provided through EPAct  (Energy Policy Act of 2005) for reducing building energy usage are in effect through the end of 2013 for interior applications such as parking garages, warehouses, and other commercial buildings. Additionally, many electric utilities such as XCEL Colorado  offer rebates for new green lighting installations or retrofits. OLP of Colorado will assist you in identifying all of the rebates, tax deductions and/or credits for which your particular project may be eligible.

 

Induction Fluorescent Lighting Compared to HPS

The photo above clearly demonstrates the excellent Color-Rendering Index for induction fluorescent lighting as well as its overall efficiency. Whether it’s for a completely new lighting installation or a retrofit opportunity, induction fluorescents are becoming more widely used. 

 
While LEDs are part of everyone’s current vocabulary, induction fluorescents are less well-known. However, that is about to quickly change because …
 
Induction Fluorescents     =     Twice the Life & Half the Price of LEDs!
 
You can learn more at SwitchYourLights.com.
 
 

 

 

 

Filed under: Bulb Technology, Commercial Lighting, Energy Audits, Green Energy, Home-Community Security/Safety, Induction Fluorescent, LEDs, Park Lighting, Security/Safety | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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 »

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 »

Not All “Green” Bulbs Are Dimmable

Posted on October 23, 2010 by outdoorlightingofcolorado

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.

Filed under: Bulb Technology, Green Energy, LEDs, Lighting Control Automation, Residential Lighting | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a comment »

Next Page »