Outdoor lighting basics

Utility, security and aesthetics are important goals in outdoor lighting. But be aware: outdoor lighting can consume a huge amount of energy and is an important source of light pollution.

Energy star qualified fixtures

Outdoor lighting & Environment

Do not use unnecessary lights around your home, or on its walls. We all should protect and preserve nighttime environment. Too much lights represent energy waste (and pollution caused by it), and is harmful to human health and to nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems. Besides, it even can reduce safety and security (it may attract undesirable attentions and intruders).

Outdoor lighting involving gardens, pathways and the house landscape

To get a sound energy solution involving laarge spaces (gardens, the pathways and the whole landscape surrounding the house...) consider low-voltage outdoor lighting kits and outdoor solar lighting.

Landscape lighting design

There are several outdoor lighting techniques as upligting, pathlighting, etc. See, for details: Landscape lighting design.

Outdoor lighting involving porches, patios, walls...

For outdoor lighting solutions, consider:

- Qualified outdoor fixtures;
- Compact Fluorescent Lights: they are more expensive but they have a longer life and a much smaller consume, as long as lights remain on for more then 2-3 hours;
- High-intensity discharge (HID) or low-pressure sodium lights (they are alternatives to fluorescents);

Lighting controls

Adding photo-sensors, motion sensors, reflectors, deflectors and timers to outdoor lighting can help you save energy by adding light only where and when necessary. See: Lighting Controls.

Natural gas lamps

Turn off and do not use decorative natural gas lamps. They are particularly environmentally-unfriendly: according to EERE, the annual energy consumption of eight gas lamps is enough to heat an average-size home during an entire winter.

Incandescent lights in outdoor lighting

Do not use incandescent lights unless they are controlled by photo-sensors, timers and other controls, and whenever lights are on for short periods of time.

Types of fluorescent lights for outdoors

If you live in a cold climate, when buying Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL’s) for outdoor lighting choose products for cold climates (lights with a special cold weather ballast). Standard CFLs do not work well below outdoor temperatures of 40°F /4ºC.

Use spiral lamps, tube lamps or candelabra (also called post or bullet shape fluorescent) for outdoor covered lamps and fixtures.

Use outdoor reflector fluorescents for outdoor exposed fixtures. See, on these issues: Compact Fluorescent Lights.

If possible choose Energy Star and other qualified outdoor fixtures. Fixtures with The International Dark Sky Association certification are an environmentally-friendly option.