Being outside during the mid-summer in Santa Barbara can be intolerably hot and uncomfortable until the sun goes down.  So, having outdoor lighting is an important landscape element for most homeowners.  Not only does it enhance safety on your property and enhance the architecture of your home and landscape, it extends the usefulness of your outdoor spaces.  But, as we all take more collective responsibility for the environment, we are seeking ways to illuminate our outdoors without detriment.  There are several things to consider when selecting lighting fixtures and setting up a well-lit landscape.

• Solar lights. Using solar wherever possible is a great way to harness the power of our hot sun without using electricity or incandescent fixtures.  Simple to install and very affordable, solar lights are versatile and a great way to experiment with outdoor lighting.  Use them for pathways, in landscape beds to highlight focal points, or even in your lamppost.
• LED fixtures. Likewise, LED lights are much more friendly to the environment an energy efficient than those that use traditional incandescent bulbs.  LEDs tend to be more durable and long-lasting, which makes them more appealing to homeowners and landscapers alike.  Even better, they attract fewer bugs, encouraging insects to live happily away from areas where they’re more likely to get swatted at.
• Dark sky preservation. One oft-overlooked concern of outdoor lighting is its impact on nocturnal wildlife that count on cues from darkness and light to survive.  Some turtles, for example, may be drawn to artificial light to lay their eggs, only to find no such habitable place for doing so.  A sustainable outdoor lighting design will take local wildlife into consideration, providing cutoffs and keeping wall lights low and out of the night sky so nighttime flyers can live peacefully.

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There are 2 reasons most clients contact us: to bring drive-up appeal to their home or to replace their current gardener. We take these two reasons to heart. We understand how important your landscape is to you. We are experts on drive-up appeal, water conservation landscaping, seasonal and climate planting, irrigation, and much more.

• Light pollution reduction. All of the above techniques can contribute to reducing light pollution.  Light pollution is the excessive spillover of light from suburban and urban areas, thus reducing people’s view of the night sky and impacting wildlife.  And when we realize how much expense and energy we apply lighting areas that we don’t intend to, we’re more inclined to employ smaller, cooler, and more efficient light fixtures to only light what we need.

Concern for the environmental and wanting to do things in its best interest is reason enough to consider hiring a landscape professional for outdoor lighting design.  Call your local Santa Barbara outdoor lighting specialist today and start learning how your home can be a sustainable night oasis!