Energy Savings with Dark Sky Compliant Light Fixture for Your Home

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Written by Cindy Sherman

Monday, 29 June 2009 20:40

by CindySherman

Dark Sky Compliant light fixtures send light where it needs to be and minimize secondary illumination. As we've shown, choosing fixtures that work for you by saving electricity and reducing extraneous glare and light pollution will help you to decreased your energy bills, make are night skies a little darker, while protecting wildlife from unnecessary light clutter and pollution.

So, if you're convinced of the importance of Dark Sky lighting for your home, why not get started down the road of retrofitting your own space with more eco-friendly, money-saving fixtures? Let us help.

The best way to insure that you are installing Dark Sky compliant is to watch for the stamp of approval that is issued by the IDA (International Dark-Sky Association) on any products that your are considering. If you are unable to find fixtures that are approved by the IDA, look for the key features that are built into fixtures that are friendly to the night sky. Look for fixtures with these features:

1. Fixtures that are made with side and top covers that are solid and opaque. This feature insures that the light is not sent sideways or skyward.

2. Some of the authentic Dark Sky fixtures use a reflector to direct the light downward. The reflector in normally found in the inner top part of the casing.

3. Flat- rather than rounded-lenses at the fixture's base help to reduce glare and light spillage.

If you currently have outdoor lighting that you are pleased with, you may not be too excited about replacing every single fixture that is on the exterior of your house. If this is the case you could retrofit using light shields. Light shields are cylindrical shaped enclosures that cover both the top and the sides of your existing fixture to reduce up-lighting. Since they are available in a wide array of colors and shapes it is pretty simple to match your fixtures to create a perfectly seamless look.

By installing Dark Sky fixtures you will be able to enjoy lower electric bill. Anytime you save energy you will lower your utility bills. It is estimated that $1.5 billion worth of light is wasted across the nation each year. This extreme waste is a result of the enormous amount of light that is directed upward. That is nothing but a waste.

Now, we realize that you're not spending billions or even millions on lighting, but just remember that unnecessary light is a drain on your pocketbook, too, even if a smaller drain than that experienced by cities and countries. By using specifically-focused, full cut-off outdoor lighting fixtures, the number of lights you require decreases and so do your energy bills.

So, instead of scattering your yard with loads of lighting fixtures, you can cut back on the number you need throughout the space. And more than likely, because of the ability of these fixtures to focus your lighting downward, you'll need smaller bulbs, too. All of this adds up to lower energy bills and savings in your pocket that increase every year, especially as energy prices rise with each passing month.

Information:

To get all the latest tips, tricks, and tactics about low voltage landscape lighting, be sure to visit us at dark sky lighting.

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