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Outdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your property, makes your
home safer and more secure, and increases the number of
pleasurable hours you spend outdoors. And it is an
investment that pays off handsomely in the value it adds to
your home. |
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A
well-lighted front entrance
enables you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall
lanterns on each side of the door will give your home a
warm, welcoming look, while assuring the safety of those who
enter. Under a porch or other overhang, you can use
recessed, chain-hung, or close-to-ceiling fixtures. A
separate rear or side entrance can be lighted with a single
wall lantern installed on the keyhole side of the door. To conserve
energy, consider post and wall lanterns that use new compact
fluorescent or high-intensity discharge light sources such
as mercury vapor or high pressure sodium. |
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For the
safety and security of family members using the garage at
night, you can install a wall
fixture on the face of the garage. Fixtures equipped with
high-pressure sodium bulbs will deliver more light per watt
and last many times longer than those with incandescent
bulbs. In addition, photocells are available that will turn
fixtures on at dusk and off at dawn, reducing energy
consumption and providing security when you're away.
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For added
security, illuminate any side of
the house that would otherwise be in shadow. To conserve
energy, install a motion- or heat-sensitive control that
will switch on the light only if someone approaches that
side of the house. An automatic timer can control a portion
of your outdoor lights to turn off at a certain hour, while
basic security lights can be left on through the night.
Another proven safety measure is to use timers on interior
lights to make your home look occupied when you're
away. |
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Steps,
paths, and driveways should be
illuminated to make sure family members and guests are able
to move about easily and safely after dark. You can install
path lights or post lanterns or attach lights to the side of
the house. Low-level path lights, which spread circular
patterns of light, will brighten your walkway, while
highlighting nearby flower beds, shrubs, and ground cover.
These close-to-the-ground lights are available in fixtures
using energy-saving low-voltage current. They are simple to
install and can easily be moved to reflect changes in your
landscaping. Low-level path lights can also be used to
define the boundaries of long driveways. Bollards, which
stand 30 to 36 inches off the ground, also work well. Use
shielded fixtures to avoid glare. |
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Decks,
porches, and patios can be
converted into romantic evening retreats by concealing
low-voltage mini-lights under steps, railing, or
benches. |
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Another idea
is to install a spotlight in the branches of a nearby
tree. |
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Don't forget to add stronger light over
the barbecue or serving area. To accomplish this, install a
recessed spot-light on an adjacent roof overhang or mount
spread lights on a railing behind the grill
For more information on outdoor lighting, talk to a Certified Lighting
Consultant at your local ALA showroom. While you're there,
pick up a copy of "Light Up Your Landscape," the ALA's 16
page guide to outdoor lighting.
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