Lighting: Who, What, Where, When, Why?

By Thomas Meis, Nightscaping

12 volt light brings out the true color and beauty of the landscape and building architecture. In addition, it is also easier to install as there is usually no conduit required, it doesn't need the minimum 18-inch deep trenches, is flexible should adjustments need to be made and is more cost effective to run. Photo courtesy of Carter Moe-Zebu Construction

It just so happens that 12 volt outdoor lighting has become one of the most desired elements a Landscape Architect can offer! People are interested in using their yards well past the viewing hours of natural sunlight.

They are creating entire micro-environments within their own property lines. Outdoor kitchens, ?EUR??,,????'??living rooms?EUR??,,????'?? complete with fireplaces, meandering paths waiting to offer someone a leisurely stroll, elegant pools and water features and much more abound as people seek ways to bring paradise home.

The first and most important design consideration is ?EUR??,,????'??Why Light??EUR??,,????'??. Find out what your client wants. What are their reasons for wanting a lighting system? Ask questions?EUR??,,????'???then listen! Do they have safety concerns? Security issues? Are they looking to create a certain mood? What is the focal point in the landscape? Any special plants or items they want to enhance? Are there any features they wish to de-emphasize at night? What activities do they pursue at night and where? What light levels will be needed? What effect do they want the lighting to have on guests? What parts of the property could be dangerous at night or require light to discourage intruders?

Just as the sun filters light beams during daylight hours through trees casting shadow mosaics on the ground, your nighttime scenes should mirror the effects of natural sunlight and moonlight. Photo courtesy of Nightscaping

Why 12 volt? The best way to answer this question?EUR??,,????'???would you put a 6-foot tall silk Ficus in that beautiful new 12-foot diameter stone tree ring? No way! It?EUR??,,????'???s not the right tree! Maybe a 72-inch box Erythrina or a multi-trunked specimen palm, but not a silk plant. Simply put, 12 volt light is the most beautiful light you can throw on a landscape.The lamp filaments are smaller than 120 volt lamp filaments, thus the lamps produce a much cleaner, sharper, more precise light output. The shadows created are sharp and defined. The color rendition is stunning without the lingering ?EUR??,,????'??haze?EUR??,,????'?? that is generated from 120 volt lamps. 12 volt lamps offer more punch per watt than 120 volt lamps. Typically, if a tree requires 300 watts of 120 volt lighting (three flood lights at 100 watts each), the same brightness can be achieved with three 12 volt fixtures at only 35 watts each! Imagine, you can get the same light output level, more beam control and save the client money.

When designing a lighting system, always start by selecting the right lamps for the task. 12 volt lighting offers the Landscape Architect more choices in wattages and beam spreads than any other type of lighting. The palette of ?EUR??,,????'??brushes?EUR??,,????'?? available to ?EUR??,,????'??paint?EUR??,,????'?? your nighttime landscape is diverse.

When lighting an entryway or entry path, be careful not to direct light into the eyes of anyone leaving. Also be aware that anyone leaving the interior ?EUR??,,????'??atmosphere?EUR??,,????'?? will need time for their eyes to adjust to the outside darkness. Photo courtesy of Reynolds Landscaping

Some important design functions

A number one concern for the client is protecting their loved ones. A well lit home will deter intruders. Security has become a ?EUR??,,????'??must have?EUR??,,????'?? for most homeowners. A well-lit property will persuade some potential intruders to avoid their property, and make it possible for the them to see and identify any approaching intruder. The landscape lighting system will give the property an ?EUR??,,????'??in-use?EUR??,,????'?? feel in which would-be intruders would not know whether or not anyone is home. A major misconception in establishing a secure area at night with light is that ?EUR??,,????'??the brighter the light ?EUR??,,????'??? the more secure the area?EUR??,,????'??. Wrong! The brighter the light, the darker the shadows are just outside the beam of light. The ?EUR??,,????'??one bright light over each door?EUR??,,????'?? method is not the best form of security lighting. Low level path and area lighting is much more effective. Have you ever seen a movie in which the giant menacing shadow on the wall turns out to be a harmless little critter casting a huge shadow? That?EUR??,,????'???s exactly the result desired for security lighting. Even the smallest movement is amplified to catch your attention.

Placing the light source close to the object, typically within 12 inches from the object, will bring out the texture of the object and create depth and interest. This lighting technique is called ?EUR??,,????'??grazing?EUR??,,????'??. Photo courtesy of John Meadors-MGM Inc.

Safety:

Special considerations need to be taken during the design process to ?EUR??,,????'??avoid injury?EUR??,,????'??. One of the most important functions of a well-designed lighting system is to ensure that the homeowner and his/her family can move about their property after dark. Walkways and entryways should always be lit to prevent tripping accidents and as a directional guide for the people using them. Spas, pools, pool decks, patios, barbecues, work and utility areas, etc. are all areas of concern when it comes to safety lighting. Changes of grade and elevation such as stairways, steps and ramps should always be properly illuminated and special care taken not to shine light directly in the eyes of those who use them.

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Techniques and Placement

There are 3 basic lighting techniques that constitute a well planned, professional landscape lighting design: Downlighting, uplighting and backlighting. Downlighting is the most natural and efficient form of lighting, like sunlight or moonlight. Using suspended fixtures, the light sources are hidden and directed downward through tree branches and plant materials. Pathways, flower beds and groundcovers can also be downlit using ground mounted fixtures. Uplighting is achieved by placing the light fixture in the ground and directing it up through plant material. Backlighting is the soft wash lighting of a background such as a wall or a fence . It is very subtle, and yet spectacular in that it silhouettes plant materials in front of a lit backdrop.

By combining these techniques, many types of functional lighting can be created.

One important factor to remember is the placement of the light in relation to the object that is being lit. If a light source is placed further away from it?EUR??,,????'???s object, the effect will be two dimensional and often ?EUR??,,????'??washed-out?EUR??,,????'??. Natural colors and textures may not appear as they should. When lighting attractive walls, columns, stonework, stucco, brick, tree trunks or plants with interesting bark?EUR??,,????'???grazing, or placing the fixture within 12-inches of the object will bring out a spectacular textural effect otherwise missing during the day.

When considering placement of fixtures, consider the shadows that will be created. The dramatic effect is not just the light cast onto the surface, but involves the intermingling of light with shadows. The idea is to create natural ambiance, not make 12 midnight look like 12 noon.

Uplighting is achieved by placing the light fixture in the ground and directing it up through plant material. The internal plant structures are dramatically lit and large shadows are produced.

Making Choices

Now let?EUR??,,????'???s take a look at the actual tools that create these spectacular lighting scenes; the lamps. 12 volt lighting offers the widest variety of lamp choices of any type of lighting. It is also the most beautiful, most pleasing light you can put into the landscape.

It enhances the beauty of any color or surface. Lamps come in wattages ranging from less than 1 watt to 100 watts and in a variety of beam spreads. If there is a specific lighting effect you wish to create, there is a 12 volt lamp available that will achieve that task. 12 volt lamps are smaller, thus smaller fixtures can be used. They burn intensely to produce clean white light with sharp-edged shadows that simulate sunlight or moonlight in intensity and clarity.

12 volt lamps are classified by their base size and shape and by their light throw patterns. Let?EUR??,,????'???s take a look at some of the common 12 volt lamps available: Par 36 lamps, or sealed beam lamps, are the old tractor beam lamps. They are typically incandescent, which produces light in the warmer range. The effect is soft, richly enhancing objects in the warm color range such as browns, yellows, reds and oranges. Par 36 lamps are excellent choices for lighting architectural features and textured surfaces. They are 4-1/2 inches in diameter, thus requiring a larger fixture. They range in wattage from 14.9 to 50 watts and in beam spreads from 3 degrees on up to 80 degrees. There are also some longer life halogen PAR 36 lamps available.

MR-16 halogen lamps are made of thick, durable quartz with a 2-inch diameter parabolic reflector. They are filled with inert gases to prevent premature filament failure. Lamp life is typically extended compared to incandescent lamps. The light produced is clear white, which brings out the brilliant natural color of any object, such as flowers and colored foliage. They are directional lamps with beam spreads ranging from 6 degrees up to 60 degrees and wattages of 10, 20, 35, 42, 50 and 75. Typically there is no significant difference in light output of a 50 watt lamp compared to a 75 watt lamp. Thus, due to heat generated by a 75 watt lamp, it is advised to use no higher than a 50 watt lamp. MR-16 lamps are smaller, thus smaller fixtures can be used.

Wedge base and Bayonet lamps are typically incandescent. They are small so compact fixtures can be used in small spaces. These types of lamps are generally used in pathlighting fixtures for soft, subtle effects. They also are used for backlighting, soft downlighting and moonlighting from lower branched trees and single-story overhead structures. They generate light in all directions, their 360 degree beam limited only by the fixture bodies which house them. They range from less than 1 watt on up to 35 watts, with lamps in the 12 to 18 watt range being the most widely used for typical applications such as pathlighting and backlighting.

Bi-Pin lamps are quartz halogen and are very compact. Their use is similar to that of the Wedge Base and Bayonets ?EUR??,,????'??? pathlighting, backlighting, low-level downlighting and specialty applications. They require smaller fixtures and because they are halogen have a longer life. Bi-Pin lamps are also 360 degrees directional, thus the fixture is the only limit to the light spread. They are available in wattages of 5, 10, 20 and 35. Both the Bi-Pins and Wedge Base lamps are also available in a long-life xenon which is usually 8,000 to 10,000 hours.

Security lighting is best achieved with low-level path and area lighting which is so effective that even a dog or cat is noticeable. Coincidentally, this will also create a soft, relaxed atmosphere that is pleasing to the eye.

Most lighting fixture manufacturers have photometric charts available for their lamps on their web sites. You can obtain more in-depth inforation on these lamps and other specialty 12 volt lamps by contacting them.

Becoming familiar with the many different types of lamps available, exploring different lighting techniques and working within what nature offers is what will push your lighting designs over the top and create an environment for your clients that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

For more information you can reach Thomas Meis of Nightscaping??????oe at 909-794-2121, ext. 22, or tom@nightscaping.com