Winter’s Electric is proud to offer the finest design and installation of outdoor lighting for your home and property. Continued from last week, here are some of our favorite tips for choosing your outdoor lighting system!
There is now considerable confusion about indoor light bulbs and what kind we should be using, how long they should last, and how we should dispose of them. This is doubly true for outdoor lighting, particularly as the lighting will need to be brighter in general, last longer (because lighting is often programmed to come on at sunset and go off at dawn), and you whether or not you need a bulb that can withstand certain kinds of weather.There are a wide variety of bulbs that are suitable for outdoor use. For starters, consider intensity, color, and lifespan; what should you know about incandescents, halogens, fluorescents, LED’s, and also – lumens and Kelvins?
1. Incandescent bulbs have long been the standard both indoors and out; they have a pleasing glow and are the least expensive, but they are being phased out because they consume so much electricity and have a short lifespan.
2. Halogen bulbs are a more efficient version of incandescent bulbs, they consume less energy and have a somewhat longer lifespan.
3. Fluorescent bulbs can be somewhat harsh, although now there are certain kinds that do have a more pleasing light. They consume less energy than halogen bulbs, and last much longer.
4. LED bulbs are very expensive, but they have an extraordinarily long life and extremely low energy consumption. Also, their price continues to come down.
5. Finally, “lumens” is the term for how bright the light is, and “Kelvins” refers to whether a light is cool (a bluish, very white light) or warm, (a more golden, reddish light). Differing color qualities in lighting can create subtle and interesting effects.
Outdoor lighting can be intimidating, but you should know that not all outdoor lighting requires specialized light bulbs that can take direct moisture. In fact, many covered lighting fixtures allow the use of regular halogen and incandescent light bulbs. If you do need light bulbs that can withstand weather, incandescent, halogen or compact fluorescent bulbs also come in PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector) versions. A PAR version of a bulb can be used in an area that gets direct rain or snow. Our outdoor lighting specialists at Winter’s Electric can help you make the right decisions for the outdoor lighting look you want to achieve on the budget you’d like to spend. We know the Rogue Valley and it’s weather, and we know how to give your home the beautiful outdoor lighting it deserves!
