Energy Saving Lights Direct Blog

Lighting is a very important aspect of a garden or any outdoor space, not only for appearance, but also for safety. It is always nice to have a lovely looking living area outside, but without ample lighting it really doesn’t have the same effects.

Various types of lighting are required to make the most out of a space, including ambient lighting to light up a general area, security lighting for vulnerable areas, accent lighting for decoration and emphasis on specific object and areas, and of course task lighting.

Task lighting is required in areas where specific task and activities take place. Straight away, many people will think of a barbecue area, or something similar, however many overlook the lighting up of walkways used to get from one area to another; path lighting.

Path lighting is essential, be it in a garden, a drive way, or a public area such as a park, hence the use of large lamp posts on the streets all over the UK. Although the post lights which are currently used do the job well, and also add security to an area due to their brightness, they can be very imposing, and are too large for areas such as private gardens and driveways. A great alternative is bollard lighting. Bollard Lights are fairly bright, commonly using a 15W energy saver lamp, which is equivalent to the recently abolished 60W incandescent lamp. Not only do they use a lot less power than larger lamp posts, especially when used with energy saving lamps, but they are usually a lot more appealing in both appearance and size. Bollard Lights are perfect for use in driveways and path ways, with a type to suit any outdoor space.

Path lights do not necessarily have to be as bright or as large as bollard lights, they could simply be up lights built into the pathway, smaller post lights, or even brick lights if alongside a wall. It is recommended that the light should be positioned between the pathway and the eye to receive the full benefit of the light. Although plenty of light is required to ensure complete safety, the light should not be too bright or positioned where it could result in a glare as this could result in the pathway being less safe than if no light was used at all.

LED lighting is constantly evolving and improving. Originally LEDs had very low lumen outputs so were not very bright, however with the technology improving, the lumen output of individual LEDs are also increasing. Due to original LEDs not being very bright, they were traditionally used for decorative purposes, rather than to provide ample lighting, however this is no longer the case. LEDs are now widely used for both indoor and outdoor use as a main light source, especially with energy bills on the rise. They not only use less energy, resulting in lower energy bills, but they also reach full brightness instantly as well as having very large life spans, generally of around 50,000 hours. LEDs are therefore another great contender of path lighting.

For more information on costs and savings from using energy saving products, and for a large range of low energy and LED lighting, such as Path Lighting, please visit our online store.

As the winter is drawing closer and the days are becoming shorter, outdoor living spaces, such as patios etc are being abandoned. With the correct lighting, and maybe a little help from a heater as it gets colder, this type of space can still be used. Energy bills are generally on the increase, therefore, low energy lights such as CFLs, LEDs or low voltage systems should be used where possible. This will reduce the amount of energy used and in turn the cost of energy bills. Energy saving lighting also tends to have a longer lifespan, resulting in less maintenance.

There are four main categories which lighting can be grouped into. These include Ambient Lighting, Task Lighting, Accent Lighting and Security Lighting. Each category is equally important in its own way – but should not necessarily be used at once in the same area.

Ambient Lighting is the general lighting of a main area, providing comfortable and ample light at wide angles. Yellow lights are not as flattering as whiter lights for either people or plants, therefore it is recommended that a higher colour temperature of lamp is used. Daylight White is around 6500K (Kelvins) and would be perfect for ambient lighting in a garden, giving off a more natural light and also helping to alleviate the symptoms of Winter Blues. Ambient Lighting should be used in the main area of the garden, such as a patio, where it is likely that people will spend a lot of their time.

Task Lighting, as the name initiates, is lighting that is used for specific tasks and activities. This could be the lighting of a barbecue area, where cooking will take place, the lighting of a games area, or simply the lighting of stairs or a walk way. The lighting should be bright enough for the task or activity to take place safely but not too bright as this could cause a glare and make the area even less safe than if it had no light at all. It is recommended that the light should be installed between eye line and the object that is being lit. An example of this could be brick lights installed in a wall at around knee height, alongside a set of steps. Bollard Lighting is also a very effective type of task lighting.

Accent Lighting is used to compliment and highlight specific objects and can really add character to a garden or outdoor living space. A simple uplight on a wall can create unusual shapes of light and can result in amazing effects, as can lighting up a specific ornament or plant. Lighting can also be used behind objects to create a dramatic silhouette rather than lighting up the object from the front. This is something very basic but can really stand out as it is a little different. Accent lighting works really well with smaller objects, however it can also be used to highlight larger features such as trees and large water features.

Security Lighting should be used in areas which are more vulnerable than others and that can become very dark in the evening. Security Lighting usually involves a floodlight and photocell or PIR sensor, dependant on what is required. A photocell will automatically turn on a light fitting at dusk and off again at dawn, whereas a PIR sensor will automatically turn the lamp on when it senses movement. As security lights are generally very bright, avoid installing them near a frequently used outdoor living space. Not only will this be bright on the eyes, but it can also be very off putting and ruin other lighting effects that have been produced. If a security light is required near to a commonly used area, it is recommended to install this with a manual on / off switch so that it can be turned off when the area is in use.

A large range of Garden Lighting in available in our online shop, including LED Lighting, Energy Saving Floodlights, Bollard Lighting and much more.

When designing your garden, one thing that is often missed is lighting. The most obvious things we think of in a garden is lawn, gravel or patio areas, flowers and plants, tables and chairs and maybe a type of water feature. However, garden lighting really is the key to adding that little extra to really make your garden stand out and look amazing.

Both ambient and accent lighting can really add that finishing touch to your garden, especially if various different areas are created or if it is a very large garden. Ambient lighting is a type of lighting that generally illuminates an area such as a floodlight or bollard light, whereas accent lighting is for adding character and complimenting a certain area or object such as down lights.

Energy Saving Outdoor Lighting options are now available, whether it be LED Lighting or light fittings which use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). This means that it does not have to cost the earth to run outdoor lighting, and if replacing inefficient lighting they will result in hug savings. Energy rated A power saving lights use less that 30% of the power used to light up an traditional incandescent or filament light bulbs, resulting in financial savings of 70-80%, dependant on the lamp used. They also have a life span of around 8 times longer. LED Lighting is designed to last for many years, usually with a life span of around 50,000 hours, therefore you really do get good value for your money. They use slightly less energy than Energy Saving Light Bulbs, however they do cost slightly more to purchase so weighing up where you would prefer to make savings is personal preference. LED technology is still evolving, therefore they would be perfect for accent lighting, lasting longer and generally being very attractive fittings, however it may take a group of LED Lights to generally light an area sufficiently (ambient lighting).

Bollard Lighting is becoming very popular in the landscaping world, usually used to light specific areas such as seating areas, or to light up a pathway or driveway. Traditionally bollards were fairly hefty and ugly looking, however now they can be purchased in all different shapes, sizes and materials. Energy Saving Bollard Lights can look great when used correctly, in both homes and on company premises such as hotel gardens and car parks. Many people say that it is lighting that finishes a room, and it is the same with gardens. Why spend all that time, effort and money in creating an amazing and striking garden if you cannot enjoy it at dusk. Bollard Lights will enable you to make the most of your garden all day, and all night long – why waste it?

A variety of Energy Efficient Lighting for outdoor use are available online. Please click Bollard Lights for our entire range of 48 variations of Pro Bollard Lighting. All products on our site are Energy Saving or LED. Click now for the New Generation of Energy Saving Lighting Products.