Archive for September, 2011

Different Home Lighting Techniques to Ensure Security

September 1st, 2011

There are a variety of choices out there you can pick from but it will be best to know how home lighting options actually work first before investing in one. After all it serves a dual purpose as your security lighting as well. Also it cannot be said to be an inexpensive investment. These are some options you might want to know about in investing on perfect exterior and interior lighting for your home.

Dusk to dawn lighting is the most old-fashioned technique. It has been known that a brilliantly lit house deters any burglary attempts because it would be in plain view and a neighbour will automatically see them. However, the disadvantage is the cost on electricity because it will consume the same amount of energy every single night, not to mention being predictable as it does not change.

Motion activated lighting is highly popular and in demand because it provides security, is convenient and inexpensive. Basically the light only switches on when motion is detected which can help ease the cost of electricity.

Hi and low motion activated lighting is a combination of both dusk to dawn and motion activated lighting as it switches outdoor lights at a small percentage of their lamp electric power from dusk until dawn and only brightens in full brilliance when the detector observes any movement.

Whole-house home automation systems switch lights mechanically at different time intervals at various parts of your property without you having need to do it manually as it can be programmed while it can also recall your lighting habits for a time span and duplicates them when you are away. Timer based security lights have been popular for quite some time because it can effectively deter break in attempts because it can be programmed to turn on lights at specific times but these automation systems have taken it to a whole new level.

Keychain remote control systems allow you to switch on your house lights as you are driving up. Basically it is a transmitter that you attach to your keychain which when pressed sends a signal to a receiver from inside the house that activates the lights on. In this way you can pull up with peace of mind that nobody is lurking in the shadows of you garage and can mug you. It takes away the element of surprise.

There are also outdoor security lights you operate from the bedroom. It is extremely helpful when you hear someone lurking in the bushes at night and would like to see what it is but would not dare walk out there to turn the lights on from the outside in complete darkness. Also in this way, simply turning on the lights should send burglars running away for dear life.

As for interior lighting, motion sensor passive infrared or PIR powered lights are a good choice. It only switches on when it detects movement and switches off when it does not. This does not only secure your safety inside the house but provides big savings on electricity costs as it is only powered on when needed. In this way, forgetting to turn lights on and off is out of the question.

Security has never been this convenient with the kind of technology that surrounds us these days. Back in the day you would have never thought that exterior and interior lighting could be utilized for security lighting too. Now, any home lighting you add to the yard, garden, in the garage and inside the house should extremely improve the security of your home and your family at night. And the convenience is not only limited to security, you can easily have a good night’s sleep with the peace of mind that you do not have to get up to open the lights when your teenage son comes home late in the morning. These lights might be more expensive than ones you usually buy but in the long run it saves you more money and decreasing your electric bill besides providing you the security you badly need. Security is simply not a matter of choice anymore. It has become an essential necessity that everyone thinks of first and remains at the top of the priority list.

Outdoor Lighting to brighten up your exteriors

September 1st, 2011

Not many people pay attention to outdoor lighting in their homes, but this oft-neglected constituent can really make your outdoors look elegant and graceful. Outdoor lighting is just right to keep your outdoors lighted and your home protected. The main advantage is that it helps you feel secure inside your home. After dark, exterior lights can help you secure your outdoors and discourage unwanted visitors such as trespassers and thieves.

Another advantage of keeping outdoor lights in top-notch condition is that you might come back home in the dark and need to find your way through the garden to your porch or entrance door. Friends visiting after sundown also need the pathway lighted up so that they can come in easily.

While choosing lighting for your exteriors, it is best advisable to go in for those that do not consume too much electricity. But at the same time, they should be bright enough to light up the outdoors. If outdoor lighting is too bright, then you might give the neighbors a reason to complain. If you are too lazy to switch on the outdoor lights yourself, you can use a timer to switch them on and off at a particular time. Alternatively, you can get the ones that switch on and off automatically at dusk and daybreak.

It can be quite a daunting task to go and select a suitable exterior light for your house. You might get confused between a variety of options that are available in the market. If you are concerned about energy conservation or high-energy bills, then you can opt for low voltage lighting that uses transformers to scale down the voltage from 120 V to 12V. Alternatively, you can select LED lamps that utilize lesser electricity, especially if you are one of those diehard landscaping fans. You can also go in for uplighting landscape lights, directional lighting, or deck lights, that best match your liking.

Yet another popular form of lighting is motion-sensing lamps that have the capability to sense any form of motion and switch on when they do. In this way, they are cost-efficient, as you don’t need them on all throughout the night. It’s also a great option to keep intruders away, since the light will switch on if any body gets close enough. A variety of motion sensing lamps are available these days and you can easily find one at your local electrical store or you can even go online to shop for these.

If you are looking for elegant and well-designed outdoor lighting products, then products like outdoor chandeliers or outdoor handing pendants and lanterns can be just great. Other popular choices can be traditional looking outdoor wall scones and lanterns, post lights and street lanterns. If modern trends score over traditional, then contemporary outdoor wall scones or contemporary hanging lanterns and scones can be just what you are desiring for. You can go in for a variety of outdoor lighting options that combine art and décor with your requirements. What you should get is optimal illumination with the best mix of sophistication and style.