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Outdoor Lighting Design

When designing outdoor lighting, you need to consider the purpose of the lighting along with the basic methods for achieving energy efficiency.

Outdoor lighting for homes generally serves one or a combination of three main purposes:

• Aesthetics

  Illuminate the exterior of the house and landscape.

• Security

  Illuminate the grounds near the house or driveway.

• Utility

  Illuminate the porch and driveway to help people navigate safely to and from the house.

Here are some basic methods for achieving energy-efficient outdoor lighting:

• Security and utility lighting does not need to be bright to be effective.

• Use fluorescent, high-intensity discharge, or low-pressure sodium lights unless incandescent lights are automatically controlled to be on for just a few minutes each day.

• Consider incandescent flood lights with combined photosensors and motion sensors in the place of other security lighting options.

• Use photosensors with fluorescent, high-intensity discharge, or low-pressure sodium lights.

• Make sure outdoor light fixtures have reflectors, deflectors, or covers to make more efficient use of the light source and help reduce light pollution.

• Use timers and other controls to turn decorative lighting on and off.

• Use outdoor solar lighting where and if applicable.

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