Sep 19

Fall Landscape Lighting Tips for Residents in Atlanta, GA

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Acworth GA, Landscape Company, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Landscape Lighting Design, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Company, Outdoor Lighting Ideas, Outdoor Lighting System | No Comments

As the days become shorter, there’s no need to pack up the barbeque and put away the outdoor furniture just yet. For Atlanta residents, there’s still reason to spend time outside in the evenings – but there may be some changes that need to be made to your outdoor lighting to match the change in season.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems services Atlanta, GA residents, installing high quality, long-lasting landscape lighting. Here they share their top tips for preparing your outdoor lighting for fall:

1. Check the Entertainment Areas

When it starts getting darker earlier it’s a good time to adjust outdoor lights to make sure that entertainment areas are well-lit. It probably won’t require the installation of additional lights, but just a general check that there is adequate soft lighting to ensure that guests are able to navigate the area safely.

2. Create a Sense of Warmth

Adding warm lighting to outdoor areas can increase the feeling of warmth. A welcoming environment that makes use of warm, rather than cool, LED lights makes it more likely that you and your guests will want to spend time outdoors.

3. Remove Fallen Leaves and Branches

As trees lose their leaves, and in some cases, small branches, this can impact an outdoor lighting installation by obscuring light fixtures and blocking lenses. To avoid this issue, regularly remove debris from around the outdoor light fixtures.

4. Adjust Lighting If Necessary

The placement of up-lights in summer may perfectly highlight a beautiful tree or bush, but as the tree loses its leaves in fall, the lighting may contribute to a sense of starkness or loneliness. By lowering the angle of the light to accentuate the trunk rather than the bare branches, you can easily solve this issue.

5. Prepare for Halloween

If you don’t want to keep making changes to your outdoor lighting, now’s also a good time to ensure that pathway lights are adequate for guests such as trick or treaters to easily and safely navigate the pathway from the sidewalk to your front door. It’s a smart move if you want to enjoy the fun of Halloween but ensure that your lawns and flowerbeds are safe from unwanted foot traffic.

6. Switch to an LED Landscape Lighting System

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to switch to LED lighting for your outdoor lights. Halogen lights use significantly more electricity and don’t offer all the benefits of an LED installation – such as longer bulb life and lower utility bills.

7. Do Routine maintenance of Your Lighting Installation

Preparing your outdoor areas for fall includes some routine maintenance. Some tasks that you may want to add to your to-do list include cleaning light fixtures, removing debris that may be covering the lights, reburying wires that have become exposed and checking the system to ensure that it’s still in perfect working order. These steps are important as regular maintenance of your outdoor lighting installation will ensure that it continues to function optimally, and it can have a big impact on the lifespan of your outdoor lights.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems for Atlanta, GA residents offer a range of services from design and installation, to maintenance in order to help keep gardens in Atlanta looking their best. With thousands of satisfied clients, they pride themselves on their ability to expertly install custom outdoor lighting that accentuates a home’s natural features. The Southern Landscape Lighting Systems team uses only the highest quality products for their professional design and installation services, which they follow up with outstanding continued customer support.

Sep 05

0

How Does LED Landscape Lighting in Marietta Work?

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Landscape Company, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Landscape Lighting Design, LED Lighting Guide, Marietta GA | No Comments

Low voltage landscape lighting adds value to the residents of a home by making outdoor areas easy to navigate and accessible after dark. It also adds to a home’s curb appeal, as well as safety and security. And, if done using LED fixtures, can save money by minimising energy use.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems specializes in LED lighting installations for homes in Marietta. Their unique understanding of the area, combined with their experience that spans thousands of LED lighting installations, ensures that they have the expert, in-depth knowledge needed for the successful design and installation of the ideal lighting solution for properties.

Here they share their top tips for ensuring that a landscape lighting solution has the correct components:

LED Lights: Setting the Style and Ambiance in a Garden

There are a number of different LED light fixtures that can be used, and the perfect combination will depend on the layout of the garden, as well as its size. Lights that should be included in an installation include path lights for illuminating a sidewalk or pathways in the garden. Spotlights and floodlights can highlight features of the garden as well as lighting up larger areas.

LED lights are available in a wide range of different designs allowing homeowners to work with their landscape lighting installer to come up with the best combination for the home.

There are some important considerations when setting up lighting in a garden; this includes:

Safety – visitors need to be able to safely navigate the garden whether they are walking from their car to the front entrance or walking through the garden to an outdoor entertainment area.
Security – landscape lights provide an important deterrent for unwanted intruders on the property. This may mean setting up lighting around the perimeter of the yard, as well as lighting up all possible entranceways and windows.
Aesthetics – landscape lighting can be used to highlight, or even create, features in the garden including water features, trees, shrubs, or even walls.

The Transformer: Powering Up the LED Lighting Installation

Your landscape lighting company will advise on the size transformer that is needed to power the installation. All transformers have a maximum wattage capacity – for example a 200-watt transformer can only safely provide power to an installation that has a maximum demand for 200 watts. This is why the lighting company will map out the yard and the fixtures needed to get an understand of the number of lights that will be used. Each of the lights will have a maximum bulb wattage rating so to calculate the size of the transformer needed; they will need to add up the total number of lights and their wattage.

An important tip here is that your lighting company will want to pad the numbers a bit and suggest that a bigger transformer be used. This is a good idea in case you decide to add additional fixtures at a later stage. Using LED light fixtures will bring down the transformer price as they are low-wattage, which will mean that you can buy a lower-spec, lower price transformer.

Cables: Linking Up the LED Lighting Installation

Here a landscape lighting contractor will lay out all the light fixtures to ensure that they have enough cabling to connect all the fixtures to the power source. In most cases, cables will be run along the ground so that they can be lightly covered with soil (making them easy to dig up and adjust if needed).

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems in Marietta, GA specializes in custom design and installation of outdoor LED lighting solutions. With years of experience, they know exactly which light fixtures to use where, the size transformer that will be needed and how to neatly and effectively wire the installation so that it works well and can be adjusted if necessary.

Aug 19

0

5 Reasons LED Lights are the Best Option for Outdoor Lighting

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Alpharetta GA, Landscape Company, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Company | No Comments

LED Lights Outdoor Lighting Alpharetta Georgia While halogen lights were a popular option for landscape lighting installations in the past, LED landscape installations are definitely the way of the future. For homeowners deciding between

halogen and LED options, there are a number of factors to consider, but it’s important to keep in mind that the long-term savings and overall efficiency of LED lights make them the better option.

These are the most important considerations:

1. Expense

Halogen lights may be an attractive option because upfront they offer a lower cost proposition, however, in the long-run LED lighting is more cost-effective as the bulbs need to be replaced a lot less often and their energy consumption is significantly lower leading to lower energy costs.

2. Energy Efficiency

Halogen bulbs lose a lot of the energy that they draw to heat, which is why the bulbs tend to get quite hot and don’t last as long. In contrast, LED bulbs, while also producing some heat, have the heat drawn away from the bulb and is dissipated by a heat sink which contributes to the long lifespan of LED bulbs.

The amount of energy the LED bulbs use is significantly lower than the amount that halogen bulbs draw. Switching from halogen to LED bulbs can result in a decrease in energy usage by as much as 80 percent.

3. Color Range

Warm light with a yellow hue is an important aspect of most landscape lighting installations, and this has always been an option for halogen and other incandescent bulbs. In the past, LED bulbs colors were limited, and most were only available in a harsh white light. But LED technology has quickly improved, and fixtures are now available in a wide range of colors and temperatures. In addition, the color tends to be a lot more consistent between fixtures.

A landscape lighting company will be able to offer LED light fixtures in a range of colors and temperatures, allowing homeowners diverse options that can be combined together to create the perfect lighting installation.

4. Lifespan

Halogen bulbs generally have a lifespan of between two thousand and five thousand hours, compared to LED bulbs that can last over 40,0000 hours if they use newer LED technology.

The lifespan of LED bulbs is calculated differently to halogen bulbs. Halogen bulbs fail or burn out, and this determines the end of their useful life. LEDs tend not to fail but rather experience light depreciation, meaning that the amount of light produced by the bulb decreases over time. The lifespan of the bulbs is therefore measured differently for a halogen bulb. For halogen bulbs, it is the

time taken for “50% of a large group of lamps to burn out” and for LED bulbs it is “based on a prediction of when the light output decreases by 30 percent” according to EnergyStar.gov.

5. Maintenance

Neither halogen nor LED fixtures are considered high maintenance, but halogen bulbs will need to be replaced more frequently than LED bulbs (approximately every one to two years). LED fixtures offer the same design flexibility if not more but will not need to have bulbs replaced for upwards of ten years. This makes them a better option for less accessible features or for homeowners looking for a very low maintenance option.

When the factors are looked at as a whole, it becomes clear that LED lighting is a better option for homeowners. Southern Landscape Lighting Systems in Alpharetta are the leading LED landscape lighting specialists offering top of the range fixtures and professional installations at an affordable price. Their high levels of customer satisfaction and commitment to excellent service make them sought-after lighting specialists in Alpharetta and the surrounding areas.

Aug 10

0

A Stylish Landscape Lighting Installation That Will Stand the Test of Time

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Landscape Company, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Marietta GA, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Company | No Comments

As professional landscape lighting installers, Southern Landscape Lighting Systems in Marietta has seen it all. From DIY jobs gone bad, to completely over the top installations that take poor taste to the next level. It has helped them to value the most important requirements for landscape lighting. All homeowners want landscape lighting that adds to the curb appeal of a home while serving the practical purpose of adding safety and security to a home.

Marietta Georgia LED Lighting The Southern Landscape Lighting Systems team shares their top tips for creating enduringly stylish and modern lighting installation for gardens in Marietta:

1. Keep Path Lights for Their Purpose

There is a tendency to use path lights for lighting flowerbeds, particularly around the perimeter of a yard. This is neither practical, nor does it serve any real aesthetic purpose. Path lights shouldn’t be installed randomly, but rather used to light pathways to help visitors navigate safely through the garden.

For homeowners wanting to highlight the natural beauty of a garden, there are better lighting options that can be used which a professional lighting company will be able to assist with.

2. Motion Sensor Lights are Not a Good Option

Homeowners often use motion sensor outdoor LED lighting as a security solution. But they can have the opposite effect. In reality, the more light that shines on a property, the more likely it is that the property will be avoided by a trespasser. Leaving the lights on acts to discourage potential trespassers before they even enter the property, whereas motion sensor lights only turn on after someone has entered the property.

3. Security Lighting Can Also Beautify a Property

Landscape lighting is installed to perform three main functions – it needs to illuminate a property to improve security and deter potential trespassers, it should accentuate the features of the property so that the yard can be enjoyed after dark, and it should make it possible to navigate the garden safely.

Professional landscape lighting is able to do these three things using a system of LED lights that are strategically positioned by making subtle adjustments to the choice and placement of fixtures.

4. Up Lights Aren’t a Good Option for Lighting Paths

Uplights aren’t a good choice for lighting paths or stairs as the direction of the light will always be up. This doesn’t make sense because the stairs and paths won’t be adequately lit, and people navigating those areas are likely to be blinded by the lights which then turns paths and stairs into tripping hazards. It’s for this reason that uplights shouldn’t be repurposed as path lights – and it’s also why path lights are the best option for stairs and paths.

5. Use a Variety of Lighting Options

With so many different types of LED lights to choose from, it makes sense to incorporate a variety of options into your landscape lighting installation. Each serves a different purpose, from lighting features to assisting with navigation and more. Working with a landscape lighting company can help homeowners find the perfect mix so that their yards are lit optimally.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems in Marietta has a team of lighting professionals who are passionate about working with homeowners to design and install landscape lighting for their homes. With a focus on highlighting the natural beauty and features of a yard as well as delivering state of the art security lighting for homes, the company has developed a strong reputation for excellent solutions and high-quality service. Their team goes the extra mile, offering trial installations, walk-throughs and excellent post-installation service that includes lens cleaning, re-burying exposed wires, replacement of halogen bulbs, replacement of time batteries, fixture adjustment, socket greasing and pruning of foliage overgrowth.

Aug 05

0

Water Feature Lighting Tips for Homeowners in Atlanta by Leading Landscape Lighting Company, Southern Landscape Lighting Systems

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Atlanta GA, Landscape Company, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Company | No Comments

Landscape lighting in Atlanta should always be designed to draw attention to the most important features of a garden. Water features are often one of the most effective focal points for a landscape lighting installation.

Whether they are viewed in the daytime or at night, water features add significantly to the visual appeal of an outdoor living space as well as offering an element of tranquillity. If done correctly, lighting a water feature such as a fountain, stream, swimming pool or pond can turn a seemingly simple feature into a captivating focal point. Water feature lighting is important from both an aesthetic and a security point of view, as if extended time is spent outdoors in the garden after dark, the feature is a potential hazard.

The water feature needs to be considered from all aspects as external and possibly underwater lighting will be needed to illuminate the structure, create a contrast between light and shadow as well as enhancing visual interest and capturing the movement of the water. Here, working with an experienced landscape lighting company is essential as they will advise on the correct features to use and ensure that the solution works well with the yard’s existing landscape lighting installation.

Atlanta GA Landscape lighting The most important factors to consider are the:

1. Angle of the LED Lights

The landscape lighting should enhance the water feature and draw attention to the reflections of the water on nearby objects, but it is important to avoid glare on the water or blinding lights that shine on outdoor seating of a patio area.

This becomes a bit trickier if there are different seating areas and access paths as the lights need to be angled away from the main viewing positions. It is possible to use existing elements from the garden to shield the lights such as rocks, trees and plants.

2. Safety

While the primary focus of installing landscape lighting may be to enhance the visual appeal of the water feature, security is also an important consideration. Bodies of water can be close to invisible at night, which is a safety hazard for children and adults that are outside in the yard. Adequate water feature lighting along with clear lighting on pathways will help guests to navigate the garden safely.

If additional lighting is needed for safety, uplights can be used to illuminate a bridge and floodlights can offer illumination of a bigger area.

3. Fixture Location

It’s important to be able to enjoy the effects of the lights without seeing the mechanics of how they work. A specialist landscape lighting designer will be able to assist with this, placing the fixtures in such a way as to optimize the effect of the fixture while ensuring that the source of the light remains hidden or obscured. They will still need to be accessible for maintenance and cleaning.

There are a number of other factors that a professional landscape lighting company will look at when lighting a water feature, including the transformer location, taking into account flora and fauna, the mood or ambience, and considering different external and underwater lighting options.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems has been installing LED lighting solutions for homeowners in Atlanta for many years. They are highly regarded for their ability to match the project vision with a solution which is both practical and enhances the aesthetic of a yard after dark. Their high levels of customer service and professional installations ensure that they are one of the leading outdoor lighting installation specialists in Atlanta.

Jun 27

0

Marietta Outdoor Lighting System, Marietta Landscape Lighting Company, Marietta Outdoor Lighting Contractor, Marietta Landscape Lighting Installation Service, Marietta Landscape Lighting Installation Company

5 Ways Landscape Lighting Can Improve Property Curb Appeal

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Marietta GA | No Comments

The improvement of curb appeal through landscape lighting is a key suggestion that real estate agents make when trying to help homeowners make a good first impression with their property. But it’s not only for people who are looking to sell, but it’s also about having a home that makes the most of its natural features.

Proper landscape lighting is something that interests property owners who want their home to stand out from other neighboring houses on the street, and it makes a dazzling impression on guests that come over in the evening. Those benefits aside, landscape lighting also works to make homes easy to find for first-time guests as well as significantly improving the security and safety of the property.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems, the leading landscape lighting company in Marietta, GA shares five things that their team focuses on when improving the curb appeal of a property.

1. Highlight Architectural Features with Up-Lighting

LED landscape lighting technology has developed significantly over the last decade and is now the premier way to illuminate the best exterior features of a home. During installation, a professional landscape lighting contractor will ensure that no lights shine directly on the windows of the home. Instead, they will work to create a balance where pillars, external décor and other architectural features of the home receive the benefit of uplights.

Although the advantages of uplights only become apparent after dark, the impressive effects are worthwhile. It is important to note that uplighting can be difficult to get right and may require the services of an experienced landscape lighting company.

2. Create Silhouettes of Landscaping Features

If the garden has natural highlights such as an impressive tree, or attractive bush, those can be made into visual highlights. Additionally, any striking or noteworthy statues, fountains or structures that can be incorporated into a landscape lighting installation.

3. Maximize the Impact of Landscape Lighting by Using a Timer

With busy days and a packed schedule, it can be difficult to remember to switch on LED landscape lights. For families that have long days, arriving home after dark doesn’t have to mean arriving in the dark. This problem can be easily solved with a timer so that the family, along with visitors and neighbors can enjoy the outdoor lighting installation as soon as it gets dark.

4. Create Visual Interest by Contrasting Areas of Light and Shadow

If the garden lacks visually interesting architectural features, another way to draw attention is to make the lighting itself the feature. Here it is important to interplay light and shadow to create interest. This technique is effective for newly planted gardens and is a good alternative while the planted features develop and mature.

5. Integrate Outdoor Lighting Into the Overall Landscaping Plan

When developing the overall plan for a garden’s landscape, it is vital that thought and attention go into how the garden will look after dark. You should take full advantage of landscape lighting as it highlights the beauty of your home. To create a cohesive, visually appealing landscape lighting installation and add to a home’s curb appeal, the installation of LED lighting cannot simply be an afterthought.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems, the best landscape lighting company in Marietta GA, provides residents and business owners with custom landscape lighting installations designed to improve the curb appeal of their clients’ properties. In addition to the tips that they have shared in this article, the team will go one step further and create a demo installation of the outdoor lighting that they think would work for the specific property.

In all interactions with clients, they aim to share their knowledge and expertise, as well as delivering high-quality landscape lighting solutions that exceed the expectations of their customers.

Jun 15

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How to Maintain Outdoor Lights: Tips from Outdoor Lighting Company in Atlanta

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Atlanta GA, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Landscape Lighting Design, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Security Lighting | No Comments

How to Clean and Maintain Outdoor Lights: Tips from Outdoor Lighting Company in Atlanta

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems, the leading landscape lighting company in Atlanta, is led by Lindsey Rodericks who is a recognized expert in landscape and outdoor lighting design. They serve a broad client base of clients in the greater Atlanta, GA area, and Lindsey gets asked a few similar questions by homeowners and business owners frequently. One of the questions she gets asked most often is how to properly care for an outdoor lighting installation to ensure that it stays in good, working order for as long as possible.

Proper cleaning and maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of LED landscape lights and ensure that the system operates optimally. Regular maintenance can also avoid costly repairs at a later stage. While some tasks are best left to a professional landscape lighting company in Atlanta, GA, there are several things that a homeowner can do. Remember to disconnect the landscape lights from the electrical source before getting started.

7 Top Tips for Outdoor Landscape Lighting Maintenance

Outdoor Lighting Tip 1 | Cut Back Branches and Plants

To get started with maintaining landscape lighting, the first step is to cut back shrubs, trees or plants that touch the fixtures, are too close, or have grown and are now blocking the light. This will help to prevent any damage to the fixtures and allows for the lights to effectively illuminate the garden.

Outdoor Lighting Tip 2 | Remove Debris from the Lights

Light fixtures should be completely free from debris. This can help improve the quality of the light’s illumination, make the fixtures look cleaner and neater and extend the lifespan of the lights. Debris can include fallen leaves, mud, dirt and dead insects.

Outdoor Lighting Tip 3 | Check the Fixtures

Landscape lighting is exposed to the elements and over time may be damaged. Check for dented metal, signs of corrosion and broken lenses to help identify whether any of the fixtures will need replacing.

Outdoor Lighting Tip 4 | Check for Exposed Cables

Cables may become exposed over time due to winds, harsh weather or even children playing in the garden. The long-term exposure of the cables to the elements can lead to damage. Before re-burying the cables, they need to be checked for damage. If there is a possibility that the electrical wires are not in perfect condition, a landscape lighting company in Atlanta, GA can come out to check and rebury them afterward.

Outdoor Lighting Tip 5 | Replace Faulty Bulbs

LED landscape lighting means that bulbs will generally not need replacing as they last for years. But this is a routine check that should be made regardless.

Outdoor Lighting Tip 6 | Clean the Fixtures

When cleaning the fixtures, it is important to focus on the metal and plastic components separately from the glass lenses. Metal and plastic parts can be cleaned with a soft rag and water. Glass lenses can be cleaned in the same way or with a special glass cleaner.

Outdoor Lighting Tip 7 | Adjust the Position of the Lights

Work through all the fixtures methodically to ensure that each one is pointing in the right direction. When the landscape lighting was installed, this will have been done correctly. However, if a couple of months have passed, some of the lights may need to be moved or adjusted due to plant growth or being knocked out of position.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems, the region’s best landscape lighting design and installation company helps bring affordable, professional landscape lighting solutions to the residents of Georgia in the areas of Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and Acworth. They offer an end-to-end solution from landscape lighting installation to landscape lighting design to ensure that they meet the specific requirements of each of their customers. Once the installation has been completed, they are also available to ensure that the LED lighting is working optimally through regular maintenance. Included in this service are lens cleaning, bulb replacement, exposed wire reburying, plant pruning, timer battery replacement, and fixture adjustment.

May 22

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Three Things to Consider When Contemplating a Landscape Lighting Installation in Atlanta, GA

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Landscape Lighting Design, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Company, Outdoor Lighting Ideas, Outdoor Lighting System | No Comments

An experienced landscape lighting designer has the potential to transform the outdoor area of your home. And with summer almost upon us, now could be the perfect time to choose a custom landscape lighting design in Atlanta. Starting the process of redesigning your outdoor lighting, may seem overwhelming with so many choices and different options to choose from. But, by keeping these three things in mind, it will be easier to ensure that you enjoy the process and have the perfect solution by the end of the process.

Get an Idea of What Your Home Could Look Like

Work with your landscape lighting installer to get an idea of what you can expect from your custom installation. At Southern Landscape Lighting Systems we offer a no-obligation free consultation where you can ask any questions that you might have, as well as getting a good idea of what the finished installation will look like.

Working directly with the installer will give you an opportunity to share what you’re looking for as well as get helpful advice and tips on how to get the most from your lighting installation. From there, our team will be able to draw up a landscape lighting design plan specifically for your home.

Choose Only the Best Fixtures

It’s important to work with a landscape lighting installer who only uses the best quality components when designing and installing an outdoor lighting system.

At Southern Landscape Lighting Systems, we use only the best products setting the bar high in terms of the quality of our products. This holds true for the full range of corrosion-proof LED lighting fixtures, wiring, and lamps. They can weather extreme outdoor conditions and remain looking good even after a couple of years.

It’s also important that the lighting performs well. LED lighting fixtures offer a long-life expectancy and consistent, high-quality light output. For low-voltage installations, it is considered best practice to use a number of different voltage transformers. This allows lamps to use a lot less energy (usually between 50% and 60%) without compromising on the quality of the light. Here there should be a balance between delivering the right amount of illumination with the intensity of the beams.

LED Landscape Lighting

Work with LED Lighting for Your Outdoor Lighting Installation in Atlanta

LED technology is environmentally friendly which means that you don’t need to choose between the option of beautiful light or an energy efficient lighting solution. LED lighting offers much higher efficiency (with a saving of up to 80% in electricity costs) and longer light life that is easy to

manipulate in terms of controlling the light intensity and directions. LED lights are incredibly durable and function well even in extremely hot or cold temperatures.

New LED lights are far superior to previous LED technology because new technology LEDs are available in a range of color temperatures, not just the bright, hard single dimension white light. They are also ‘instant on,’ there’s no delay, flicker or need for the bulb to warm up and, because they do not contain any harmful materials, you can reduce your carbon footprint. LED bulbs have a life expectancy of over 50,000 hours. Keep in mind though, that the lifespan can vary based on the quality of the LEDs, the way that the system is designed and the environment in which they operate.

At Southern Landscape Lighting Systems, we are dedicated landscape lighting installers that specialize in outdoor LED lighting installations in Atlanta, Sandy Springs and surrounding cities. Using only the best equipment and materials, we have the installation experience to ensure that you get the best solution for your home.

May 15

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Southern Landscape Lighting Systems Answers Your 5 Top Questions on LED Landscape Lighting in Alpharetta, GA

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Design, LED Lighting Guide, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting | No Comments

LED lighting solutions in Alpharetta, GA have become a popular option for outdoor lighting both for homes and commercial properties; but many clients still have questions. This is largely due to misinformation based on an outdated understanding of how LED technology works and its limitations. It’s important to understand how outdoor LED lighting works so this article will address six of the most commonly asked questions around the technology used for outdoor LED lighting and why it is the best solution.

1. Do LED lights really save money?

LED lights are designed to replace incandescent, fluorescent, halogen and other lighting types. In general, they will reduce energy consumption by a minimum of 40%, but often up to 80%. They can last up to (and sometimes longer than) 100,000 hours which also reduces the amount of maintenance that an outdoor lighting system will need. Between the energy saving and the reduced maintenance costs, LED lights quickly become a cost-efficient option.

2. What are the key benefits of using LEDs for landscape lighting?

There are many advantages to using LED lighting for outdoor areas; the key benefits are:

· A noticeable, immediate reduction in your electricity bill

· Long-lasting bulbs, LED bulbs typically last between 50,000 and 100,000 hours

· Durability – making them the perfect solution for outdoor use

· Efficiency, they produce less heat as they’re more efficient at converting electrical energy into light

· Safety as they don’t contain any hazardous materials

· The ease with which they can be recycled

3. How does LED lighting work?

There are three primary components: the LEDs, the heat sink and the driver. The driver converts AC power to DC and makes it available to the LEDs to create light. The LEDs are the chip set that produces the light. The heat sink works to catch the heat from the driver and the LEDs.

4. Can you control the brightness of LED lights with dimmer controls?

Not all LEDs are dimmable; it will depend on the driver which needs to be designed specifically to allow dimming and the installation of a particular type of dimmer. Check for both if you want an outdoor lighting solution that is dimmable. Outdoor LED Lighting

5. Are LED lights good for the environment?

Yes! In addition to the energy savings and long lifespans of LED lights, they are also environmentally friendly. LED bulbs don’t contain mercury (or any other hazardous metal or chemicals), so they can easily be recycled.

6. Is it true that the only color temperature available for LEDs is that harsh white light?

Absolutely not. When LED lights first became available on the market the light temperature was Cool White which is fine for floodlights, but not a good way to create ambiance. As technology has developed, there is now a wide range of different colors, as well as a variety of ‘white’ bulbs to choose from.

Manufacturers label the LEDs with terms such as Day White, Natural White, Warm White, and Cool White. These labels signify the warmth of the light, warmer lights will have more yellow tones, and cooler lights will have more blue tones. For an outdoor LED lighting installation, it often works well to have a combination of warm and cool LED lights to create a perception of depth and variation for the garden.

If you’re looking for LED landscape lighting in Alpharetta, GA, give the team at Southern Landscape Lighting Systems a call. They’ll be able to answer all your questions about using LED lighting for your garden as well as giving some suggestions on how to get started. With many years of experience, they’re the best landscape lighting company with specific expertise with LED lighting.

May 08

0

Highlight the Beauty of Your Home with Landscape Lighting Design in Marietta GA

By Southern Landscape Lighting Systems | Acworth GA, Landscape Company, Landscape Lighting, Landscape Lighting Company, Landscape Lighting Design, LED Lighting Guide, Outdoor LED Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Company, Outdoor Lighting Ideas, Outdoor Lighting System, Security Lighting | No Comments

The best landscape lighting companies in Marietta, GA know that the secret to a perfect outdoor landscape lighting installation is to carefully draw attention to the architectural highlights of the home, as well as the best features of the yard. As the sun sets, a property without correctly installed exterior lighting is no longer able to showcase its best features. An architect carefully plans the design of a home considering the owner’s preferences, functional elements and the use of texture and shapes. But it is the landscape lighting company’s duty to ensure that the vision is available for everyone one to see, both during the day and at night.

Variations in Landscape Lighting to Showcase Your Home’s Architecture

A landscape lighting installer will take into account design considerations for the lighting. This includes the color of the light, and as such, they will often include variations in the warmth of the white lights that are used in the design. They will also look to change up the output intensity, so that there is more light in some areas, and less in others. They will then use the direction of the light beams to showcase the property’s features to their best advantage. Lighting up your home makes use of all these different options to create a multi-layered visually stunning nighttime perspective.

Quality Light Fitting to Transition Seamlessly Between Night and Day

Working with a landscape lighting installer, it is important to choose the right kind of outdoor light fixtures as the light fixtures should not detract from the property during daylight hours. With this in mind, it is important to choose fixtures that will not obstruct any features in the garden such as an outdoor area or a fountain. Rather, fixtures should enhance the original beauty of the architecture at night and not be noticeable during the day.

Landscape Lighting Design

Key Reasons to Choose Landscape Lighting for Your Property

Landscape lighting is quickly becoming non-negotiable for homeowners wanting to improve their properties for several reasons. Firstly, outdoor lighting can improve the value of the property as well as the sense of enjoyment that you get from being able to use your outdoor areas during the day and at night. Secondly, it increases the safety of your property and reduces the risk of any costly accidents. Thirdly, it works to improve the security of the property as it acts as a deterrent for possible break-ins. And lastly, it showcases the beauty of your property at night so that you can enjoy your home and yard twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

More Than Just a Practical Necessity

Landscape lighting is about more than just lighting up walkways to get people from point A to B; it’s an opportunity to build on the architectural appeal of a business. In the right hands, outdoor lighting has the potential to create or bring out different textures and structural elements, making them stand out to anyone who visits at night. This is done through the careful selection of the right kind of LED lights and the strategic placement of the fixtures.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems is the best landscape lighting company in Marietta GA to work with if you want a solution that’s creative and carefully designed using only the best fixtures and technology. Their professional outdoor lighting designs are guaranteed to enhance the architecture of your home as well as highlighting any important features on your property. They’re available to ensure that your property realizes it’s potential with friendly, efficient service and quick turnaround times on designs.