Like many Landscape Contractors, you are constantly looking for products and techniques that will save you time and money. Face it, few things are more important to the longevity and success of your business. The installation of a fiber optic lighting system offers many advantages that Landscape Contractors can capitalize on. The system is easy to install, and requires less maintenance and fewer callbacks.

Fiber optic lighting is achieved by passing large amounts of light through polymer strands starting at a remotely located electric illuminator. Since only pure light energy is transmitted, there is no electricity and no heat in the light source. Side glow is the most common type of fiber optic lighting used in the landscape glow. It resembles neon and is usually installed around the perimeter of pools and spas.

Fiber optic lighting has many uses, but primarily it is used to define and accentuate architectural features in the landscape. The awnings on a gazebo and the edges of steps are both ideal applications for fiber optics.

Besides the obvious safety value of no electricity near water, a remote light source means a color wheel can be added to the illuminator to change the color of the light. And because the illuminator is away from the pool and readily accessible, servicing becomes a breeze. As a Landscape Contractor, there are many benefits to fiber optic lighting that might interest you.

Advantages to using fiber optic lighting:

• Extremely low maintenance

• No heat generated by light fixtures

• No risk of electrical shock

• Easy to relocate the system

• Only have to change the light

bulb at one location.

• Can be used underwater.

There are numerous misconceptions that exist about fiber optic lighting. The first misconception is that the light produced is not bright enough. Any lighting system needs to be properly designed in order to produce the right amount of light in the landscape. Regardless of the system that is installed, fiber optic or electric, some of the external factors that need to be taken into consideration are existing ambient lighting, street lights, patio lights, house-pool location relationship, and pool surface color.

Fiber optic lighting is ideal for water applications because there is no risk of electrical shock.

Another prevalent misconception is that fiber optics is too expensive. When you compare "apples to apples" (one fiber optic light versus one electric light), fiber optic lighting may be slightly more costly than a traditional electric light. When you add a spa light and feature lighting, the cost is more comparable and sometimes, less than using electric lights. The reputation that fiber optic lighting gets for being too expensive stems from the fact that some fiber optic lighting jobs contain multiple lights, perimeter lights, wireless remote control or other options that raise the cost. These are options that are not available when installing electric lights.

As the demand for fiber optic lighting increases, many companies are coming up with improvements that make installation easier than ever. Fiberstars, based in Irvine, Calif. offers pre-cut fiber kits and user-friendly light boxes that have cut some installation times by 50 percent. In addition, most Fiberstar fiber optic installations require only one hot knife cut.

Installing perimeter fiber optics can literally be a "snap" with all the latest deck forms, copings and tracks available on the market today. Mortex Manufacturing Co., based in Tucson, Arizona offers an innovative fastener that easily secures the lighting system to the perimeter of the pool. The Tack-It® system works on all cantilever decks containing cove strip. In the past it was often cost prohibitive to install lighting around an existing pool. This product makes it easy and inexpensive to highlight a pool with perimeter lighting even after installation.

This fountain at the Science City in Kansas City, Missouri delights and entertains guests with laminar streams of water that are illuminated by a computerized fiber optic system. Designed by Crystal Fountains of Concord, Ontario, this interactive fountain exhibits the versatility of fiber optic lighting.

Reed Powers, President of Isis Lights, formerly known as Advanced Fiberoptics Technologies, Inc., manufactures fiber optic bullet lights, spread lights and flood lights that resemble typical low voltage fixtures.

"One of the primary benefits of a fiber optic system is that the Landscape Contractor and client don't have to worry about a light fixture burning out." Powers explained. "In a typical low voltage system, the light bulbs only last about 1,000 hours. The illuminator in a fiber optic system uses one metal halide light bulb which is good for 6,000 to 12,000 hours."

Powers noted that this type of fiber optic lighting is usually 1 1/2 to 2 times more expensive than conventional lighting systems. The payback, he explained comes in the reduced maintenance costs and lamp longevity. LCM