Q: I want to improve my outdoor lighting for better security and when entertaining guests. I want to do it efficiently and do some of the work myself to lower the cost. What are some outdoor lighting tips?

A: It is important to plan your outdoor lighting scheme or it may increase your electric bills significantly. Keep in mind that the best lighting plan for security is not always the best for entertaining. It would be wise to make two lighting layouts on different switches.

To calculate how much it costs to operate outdoor lights per day, first total the wattages of all the bulbs. Multiply this total by eight hours and then multiply by your electric rate ($ per kilowatt-hour). Divide this by 10 to get the number of cents per day. You might be surprised at the total.

People often think that brighter lights provide better security.

Actually, lower lighting levels are more effective. This is because it is difficult for the human eye to quickly adjust from a very bright area to a darker area. If the lighting is less bright, it is often easier to see and pick up movement in the darker areas where someone might be hiding.

The best security lighting plan is ineffective if your house is not reasonably secure. If someone can break into your house in a few seconds, he or she probably won't be concerned about the possibility of being seen.

Make sure all your windows have latches and lock them when the windows are closed, even when you are at home. Install good-quality, bump-resistant deadbolt locks on all the doors. These are more difficult to pick. Plant thorny shrubs under windows and install an alarm system.

Walk around your house and look for spots where someone might hide that may need some security lighting. Do this at night because street lights or neighbors' lights might already provide adequate brightness. Try to minimize light pollution by using only as much brightness as is necessary.

CFL (compact fluorescent lights) and LED (light-emitting diodes) produce much more light output per watt than standard incandescent bulbs. For example, an L22 array LED fixture uses less than 25 watts to produce the same light output as a 100-watt incandescent bulb. LEDs are not affected by cold temperatures. CFLs are and take a little time to reach full brightness.

Motion-sensing lights are the most efficient and effective for security.

Go here to see the original:
JAMES DULLEY: Keep costs down; plan outdoor lighting

Landscape Company Prairie Village KS 816-500-4198
Landscape Company Prairie Village KS 816-500-4198 https://plus.google.com/+AnthonyReyeskansascitymasonry/posts Kansas City Masonry and Fountain / Landscape company,waterfalls,is a LANDSCAPE...

By: Anthony Reyes

Read the original:
Landscape Company Prairie Village KS 816-500-4198 - Video

Landscape Company Belton MO 816-500-4198
Landscape Company Belton MO 816-500-4198 http://www.kclandandhardscape.com/ Kansas City Masonry designs and installs Landscaping, outdoor firepits,outdoor fireplaces, built in bbq grills, bbq...

By: Anthony Reyes

See original here:
Landscape Company Belton MO 816-500-4198 - Video

Landscape Company Leavenworth KS 816-500-4198
Landscape Company levenworth 816-500-4198 http://www.kclandandhardscape.com/ Kansas City Masonry designs and installs Landscaping, outdoor firepits,outdoor fireplaces, built in bbq grills,...

By: Anthony Reyes

Visit link:
Landscape Company Leavenworth KS 816-500-4198 - Video

24Hr Emergency Electrician / Electrical New Rochelle | Call 914-368-2513 | 10801 10802 10804 10805
24Hr Emergency Electrical Work New Rochelle | Call 914-368-2513 | 10801 10802 10804 10805 Require Emergency Electrical Work in New Rochelle? Call 914-368-2513 Proudly Serving:. 10801 10802...

By: NXTLevel Remodeling

See original here:
24Hr Emergency Electrician / Electrical New Rochelle | Call 914-368-2513 | 10801 10802 10804 10805 - Video

flood lamp for tunnel lighting and outdoor lighting with the best price
More info you can visit:http://www.lead-lighting.com/led-street-light/led-street-light-cl2-series.htm Shenzhen Lead Opto-Technology Co. Ltd is a professional...

By: LISIDA LEADLIGHTING

Read the original:
flood lamp for tunnel lighting and outdoor lighting with the best price - Video

Landscape Design Indianapolis - Tree Trimming - Outdoor Lighting
http://www.ajaysnursery.com :- Find expert services for landscape design, lawn service, hydroseeding and mulching solutions with our well trained certified...

By: Sandy Dempsey

See the original post here:
Landscape Design Indianapolis - Tree Trimming - Outdoor Lighting - Video

Elite Outdoors Services Landscape Lighting
Elite Outdoor Services - specializing in Tulsa Landscaping, Outdoor Lighting and other Landscape Services. Get a free consultation at http://eliteoutdoortuls...

By: Elite Outdoor Services

Excerpt from:
Elite Outdoors Services Landscape Lighting - Video

Tis the season for making changes in and around the home. The arrival of warmer weather renews homeowners vigor for various home improvement projects, and many have grand plans for interior and exterior renovations as they prep their living spaces for comfort, beauty and entertaining opportunities. While there are many worthy projects to pursue, adding outdoor lighting to a home can help increase its value and make the home safer and more attractive in the evening hours.

According to the American Lighting Association, with a few updates to outside lighting, families can make even better use of their homes at night. Adding outdoor lighting is easier and less expensive than many homeowners may realize, allowing them to transform an existing patio, deck or pool area into an enjoyable nighttime retreat. Pool parties, dinners on the patio or barbecues with neighbors become even more memorable when outdoor lighting is added or improved. But homeowners who want to install or upgrade their outdoor lighting should consider the following tips, courtesy of ALA.

Improve navigation. Lighting is typically layered into a room or outdoor space in three ways: overhead, task and ambient. Even outdoors, where there are no typical boundaries and borders, those three layers are necessary. Outdoor overhead lighting should improve visibility on steps, paths and walking surfaces, especially where theres a bend or an intersection. Task lighting can be used around cooking or gardening areas. Ambient light will cast a comforting glow around any outdoor space.

Enhance security. To improve visibility and security, combine a motion detector with a sconce to illuminate dark corners or entryways. Be sure to aim lights away from the door to improve visibility. Lanterns on either side of the door can give a home a warm, welcoming appearance and improve the safety of entryways.

Create outdoor rooms. Outdoor lighting at the borders of a space is a great way to create barriers, both vertically and horizontally. Lights in a tree create something akin to a chandelier hung in the middle of the sky, and even accent lights in the general area of the edge of a patio, deck or porch will shine across the space and provide enough of a comfort level for people to understand where things are.

Reduce glare. Outdoor lighting that casts a glare can be blinding, as can light thats too bright. Lighting along paths should be cast downward, with fixtures that are hooded. A variety of lighting options will create layers, allowing you to add or subtract as necessary. Exterior-safe dimmers also can provide flexible control over the level of light, as can movable fixtures added to a patio or porch.

Add decorative elements. Just as arbors, pergolas, patios and other outdoor elements help to enhance the style of an outdoor space, so, too, can lighting contribute to a well-designed landscape. Lighting should play up decorative features of a yard and add the ambience that homeowners desire. Step lights make passage safe while also highlighting molding or trim details. An outdoor chandelier can make for a wonderful accent during dinnertime on the deck or under a pergola. Patio lights provide atmosphere as well as illumination for cooking outside.

Enhance views from inside. Outdoor lighting can make the view from inside pleasant and enjoyable. Use a variety of lights, including spotlights on trees, lights dotted along pathways and accent lights on unique landscape features, to create an idyllic landscape visible from inside the home.

Outdoor lighting enhances functionality of yards and landscapes while making such areas safer for homeowners and their guests once the sun has gone down.

Visit link:
Lighting sets the stage for outdoor fun

MonoFusion: Scanning objects in real time with a single web camera
This project offers a method for creating 3-D scans of arbitrary environments in real time, utilizing only a single RGB camera as the input sensor. The camer...

By: MicrosoftResearch

More here:
MonoFusion: Scanning objects in real time with a single web camera - Video