Conscious Choice: Energy Efficient Lighting

September 2000 | Sensible Home

Energy Efficient Lighting

by James Dulley

Dear Jim: I want to add some landscaping and security lighting in my yard. I need lighting kits that I can install myself to save money. What type of efficient, general-purpose lighting kits do you recommend? — Jan T.

Dear Jan: Since you do not want to hire an electrician to do the job, new fiber-optic or low-voltage landscaping and security light kits are your best choice. Both are very easy and safe to install yourself. Hi-tech fiber-optic lights are the safest to use because the individual light fixtures have no electricity connected to them. A single 75-watt bulb is used in the projector that is plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

Thin fiber-optic cables carry the light from the projector to the individual light fixtures through your gardens or walkways. You can install up to twenty-four bollard-type lights to a single projector unit. Each fiber-optic fixture has the equivalent light output of a 10 to 15 watt low-voltage light.

Futuristic-looking fiber-optic floodlight kits are also available, but you can use only a maximum of sixteen fixtures per projector. For swimming pools, decks, and patios, contour lighting using a side-glow fiber-optic cable is attractive. The entire cable glows to mark an edge or a walking path.

The styling of safe low-voltage (12-volt) lighting kits is constantly improving. A new "Let’s Edge It" kit is ideal for lining walkways and driveways. These use realistic-looking durable plastic bricks that weather like real brick. With built-in wiring connectors, they just snap together.

A twenty-foot kit includes six lighted bricks and twenty-two unlighted bricks. The swiveling connector pieces between the bricks looks like real mortar. This allows the bricks to form a curve to follow a walkway. If you want to accent trees, for example, they swivel enough to form a circle forty-two inches in diameter.

Most low-voltage lighting kits now offer features such as automatic timers, electric eyes, and dimmer controls. Many new all-metal designs use frosted and cut glass for attractive and efficient lighting. Inverted tulip-shaped lights and those with base planters are ideal for flower gardens.

Another key area of improvement has been in the wiring connector design. If you have ever tried to attach old fixtures, you will appreciate this. These new designs are much easier to snap on to the heavy 12-volt wire and some are now sealed to minimize corrosion for true maintenance-free operation.

Choose fixtures with halogen bulbs and built-in reflectors for bright directional accent lighting. Small standard incandescent or super-efficient five-watt fluorescent bulbs are good for pathway or area lighting.

Write for (or instantly download) Update Bulletin No. 983, buyer’s guide of thirteen low-voltage/fiber-optic lighting and brick kit manufacturers showing styles, fixture materials, features, prices, and accent-lighting design tips. Please include $3 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Conscious Choice, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244

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