LED Landscape Lighting

A beautiful landscape can be made more appealing with the help of a perfect lighting system. Apart from accentuating the style and beauty of the landscape, such lighting systems are beneficial for security reasons too, as it can discourage intruders as well as nocturnal animals like skunks, armadillos and raccoons. You may also conduct night parties and other events in your landscape, if it has a proper lighting system. Though, initially, the emphasis on landscape lighting was mainly for security reasons and other utilitarian purposes, now, it has emerged as a style statement. There are various types of lights that are designed for specific purposes, like flood lights, spot lights and down lights. LED landscape lighting is one of the popular forms of outdoor lighting.

What is LED Lighting

We all know that incandescent, fluorescent or halogen bulbs have been used as the conventional sources of illumination. Now, the whole scenario has changed with the introduction of more durable and energy saving versions, like, the compact fluorescent bulbs and LED lighting. What is LED lighting? LED or light emitting diode refers to a semiconductor device that is used for conversion of electricity to light. Though, the invention of LED technology can be traced back to the 1920s (by Oleg Vladimirovich Losev of Russia), its practical use was started in the U.S., during the 1960s. While, the earlier versions of LED lights were able to produce low intensity red light, nowadays, you can purchase these lights in many different advanced versions. You might have seen LED landscape lighting that has been used very widely.

As compared to incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs, LED lights are highly energy efficient. It is said that these lights are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs. As compared to CFLs, LEDs are 300% more energy efficient. LED light bulbs have a longer life and they don't emit UV rays and do not contain any toxins too. Another advantage with these bulbs is that they don't heated and do not attracts insects. These lights are very popular for outdoor lighting, like, the ones in the landscape.

LED Landscape Lighting Tips

Even though, they come with a slightly higher prices, they are cost-effective, as they are long-lasting and energy efficient. As far as LED landscape lighting is concerned, you can either go for the solar-powered ones or the standard 12-volt powered ones. While solar-powered LED lights are attached to solar cells that converts sunlight to electricity and rechargeable batteries, the other version requires power from the electric system of your home. So, the latter have to be connected with electric wires that makes the installation of light fixtures, a little bit more difficult as compared to the solar ones. While solar LED lights can fixed on any place with good sunlight, in case of others connecting to the power source can be a problem. But, solar landscape lighting rely on sunlight, that is not predictable, other type is more reliable.

Make a sketch of your landscape and the house and mark those places, where you want to install the lights. While, for some locations, lighting is needed for illuminating the area, some others may be aimed at highlighting something, like a garden ornament or a special plant or statue. You can come up with an LED landscape lighting design, including portable floodlights, camping lanterns, flashlights, patio and deck lights, pond lights, up lights and down lights. Use them in the proper manner, at suitable locations. Make sure that the style and material of lighting installations have to be in sync with the style of your house. For example, ornate lighting fixtures will be appropriate for a Victorian home.

In short, LED landscape lighting is a perfect choice to accentuate your premises. You may either do it yourself, if you have knowledge in installation of lighting fixtures and some outdoor accent lighting ideas, or hire a professional for the same. Starting kits are also available for beginners. So, deck up your landscape with this lighting and enjoy the difference.