Low Voltage Lighting: A Bright Idea for Your Yard
Low voltage lighting for outdoor illumination originated in the 1950's. Previously, outdoor lighting options had been limited to 120 volts—making it a challenge to brighten one's yard after dark. Lighting the landscape after sunset was beyond the budget for the average Joe or Jane homeowner. Illumination that could be powered using less voltage paved the way for the many choices now occupying the landscaping section of our local hardware stores. We owe this change in the lighting landscape to a gentleman by the name of Bill Locklin.
Bill Locklin, an electrician, electrical hobbyist and inventor living in California at the time, had a job to accomplish. A client required backyard lighting for a dinner party involving very important people. Unbeknownst to Locklin, the guests of honor were none other than Dwight and Maime Eisenhower—the president and first lady of the United States. Luckily for Locklin, and the rest of us as well, President Eisenhower was so taken with Locklin's low voltage lighting solution that he commissioned him to install the very same system at his vacation home shortly after the party. Thus, night friendly landscaping and the popular low voltage outdoor lighting we know today were born.
More than fifty years later, low voltage outdoor lighting remains a practical and aesthetically pleasing choice for homeowners and businesses alike. Outdoor lighting can aid individuals and companies in preventing crime and accidents caused by low visibility. Diane Relf, Extension Specialist in the department of Environmental Horticulture at Virginia Polytechnic and State University wrote, "Outdoor lighting can provide valuable protection for the homeowner against break-ins and can increase safety, while accenting the landscape. Lights eliminate dark spots and shadows around the home, reducing hiding places for intruders." Additionally, illuminated paths increase visibility and can help prevent falls outside a business or a home—another key safety concern.
Meanwhile, strategically placed low voltage lighting adds ambiance and curb appeal to even the most humble landscapes. With a little lighting, the fun does not have to end just because the sun has gone down. Children can play safely outdoors aided by low voltage landscape lighting and parents can enjoy backyard dinner parties with their guests. Setting low voltage lights around the edges of the yard and porch create a welcoming atmosphere.
Many options abound regarding the type, size, shape and power source for lighting your outdoor spaces. If you want a lighting source that is inconspicuous, you can use camouflaged lighting designed to look like just another rock in the flowerbed. Conversely, if you prefer elegant lighting fixtures to accentuate your outdoor area, there are lanterns of every shape and size to fit the need. Not interested in complex wiring? Try installing a solar version of the traditional low voltage lighting option for an eco-friendly wireless approach.
Whatever your tastes, residence or style of landscape, low voltage lighting exists in a variety of forms to meet your specific needs. Providing both safety and beauty in the form of light for more than half a century, low voltage lighting remains a bright idea for your yard.