Exterior lighting has come a long way in the past decade. A beautification process that used to mean dangerous wires and a lot of energy output has been transformed into more eco-friendly upgrades that add both security and attractiveness to your home’s exterior. If you need just a few lights, you might be able to handle the job yourself, but if you desire a setup that truly lights up the night sky, a professional outdoor lighting company can create a design unique to your needs and exterior.

Low-voltage technology
Exterior lighting used to require running high-voltage lines outside, which called for special installation and could be dangerous. Because it was tricky, installation was three to four times more expensive than current rates, and the fixtures were also more expensive. Everything changed when low-voltage halogen lights were invented.

“The advent of low voltage really opened up a lot of options,” says Ian McGinnis with Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. And these options have developed pretty quickly. “It’s coming into a mature phase now,” he says. With only 10 to 12 volts, low-voltage lights are extremely safe. A dog could dig them up, chew on them and not get hurt—think of sticking your tongue on a 9-volt battery. Low-voltage lights are also easier and cheaper to install. The fixtures are made better, too, and they usually come with a warranty of 10 years or so.

An added benefit of the new low-voltage lights is that they are more eco-friendly than their predecessors, because they use less electricity to run, are safer and are less disruptive to the environment.

Pick a place
Exterior lighting can be used to accent architectural features, highlight landscaping like Japanese maples or crape myrtles, light up paths, call attention to flower beds or make the pool or water feature something to enjoy day or night. “Your landscaping can frame your house when you light it,” says Mike Fennel with Landscape Lighting Systems Inc. The position of the fixture is always critical. “You want to see the effect of the light and not the source,” he says.

There are two main techniques to placing exterior lighting: uplighting and downlighting.

• Uplights are placed under structures like plants; they are versatile and give off little glare.

• Downlights are attached on top of a tree or the house and shine their light down onto the ground. With downlighting, the actual light fixture is exposed.

Another lighting option is area lighting, which consists of lampposts and coach lights that spread a large amount of light over a broad area. If you want to emphasize a specific attribute such as a sculpture or fountain, a spotlight can be very direct. Because low-voltage lights are so safe, you can easily put them almost anywhere, including near water or in a pool. Exterior lighting is also a must to accentuate the features of outdoor kitchens and fireplaces.

Outdoor options
There are three basic types of exterior lights: bullet, well and path.

• Bullet lights, so named due to their shape, attach to a short stake and can be aimed at a specific spot. These are useful in places like on the ground or the side of a building and can be used with a variety of different mounts.

• Well lights actually sit in the ground like a well, and the bulb is placed below ground level. A well light is similar to a headlight in that it doesn’t necessarily need to be aimed at what it is meant to highlight, because it will wash light around whatever it shines directly on.

• Path lights are basically smaller versions of area lights and stand up to about 20 inches off the ground. These are used to light paths and other areas along the ground.

Most lights have white, yellow or blue undertones, with preference favoring whiter lights. Colored lights are popular during the holidays, but in general, homeowners choose neutral lights for the exterior. The placement of the lights can give plenty of special effects without using color.

Taking control
There are several ways to control your exterior lights, including photocells, manual timers or a universal powerline bus.

Photocell
A photocell is a simple switch that responds to having no light exposed to it. It will make your lights come on when it gets dark regardless of the time of day, since dusk changes with the season. Photocells are sensitive and must be placed carefully; otherwise, they might make your lights come on at the wrong time or not come on at all. For example, if your neighbor installs an exterior security light, and it happens to shine on your photocell, your lights may no longer come on.

Manual timer
With a manual timer, you choose the times and set the timer. You can also set the lights to come on at multiple times, like night as well as early morning, depending on the season and your personal needs.

Universal powerline bus
Recently, the universal powerline bus (UPB) has given homeowners a whole new level of control. UPB technology uses the existing electrical wiring in the home to commu-nicate between the timer and transformer. Previously, this type of communication was available through the use of radio frequency, but radio waves are susceptible to interference. The UPB, on the other hand, is highly reliable.

UPB technology has a flexible timer with an astronomical clock, which calculates sunset during different times of the year, as well as daylight savings time. It can also work in tandem with other light switches in the home, turning on the porch or driveway lights or even dimming them. Since the UPB plugs into an electrical outlet, it can be placed conveniently in a bedroom. That way, if you hear a noise outside at 2 a.m. after the lights have gone off, you can quickly turn on the exterior lights without even leaving your pillow.

This type of safety is another vital reason homeowners are excited about exterior lighting. “The advantage of lighting is not only curb appeal, but also security,” says Joe Dover with Nightvision Outdoor Lighting. Houses with exterior lighting are less likely to be broken into, and an outdoor lighting system is particularly beneficial for homes set away from the road or in wooded areas.

Future technology
Although low-voltage halogen lights are better for power consumption than high-voltage lights, many green-friendly homeowners have become interested in using solar lights outside. However, while solar lights might be environmentally friendly, at this point, most don’t spread as much light as homeowners want. Low-voltage lights use 35-watt halogen bulbs, which are the equivalent of 75-watt light bulbs. By contrast, solar lights can use only 7-watt bulbs, and while the lights do shine, they don’t light up the surrounding areas very well. So, you would see lights along a path, but not actually see the path.

Like solar lights, LED lighting is another hot new technology that will become more useful in future years. LED lights are extremely energy-efficient, so they are also better for the environment. However, the light they cast tends to look somewhat unnatural, unlike halogen bulbs that have a very white light. In addition, LED lights are still very expensive, costing about $50 per bulb compared to about $2 per bulb for a halogen light. Of course, as the technology improves, LED lights will become less expensive and could be the wave of the future. “When we can start using LEDs from an economic standpoint, we will,” McGinnis says.

Getting started
If you have some knowledge of the electrical aspects and the mechanical ability, you might consider installing exterior lights on your own. Just remember that the wiring for the safe low-voltage lights must be buried at least 6 inches, according to code. “Most people are not ready to tackle that,” Dover says, because burying wire is very time consuming.

For a superior lighting job, a professional has the experience to correctly place lights and avoid common mistakes, like using too few lights, placing them too far from each other or the objects they are meant to highlight, or placing them at the wrong angle. “There’s a difference between having a little illumination and having the whole house professionally lit,” Dover says.

Hiring a pro? Get a nighttime demonstration; otherwise, you won’t really know what your lights will look like. Don’t let the first time you see your lighting be the night after all of the work has been completed.

Cost considerations
The cost of a professional exterior lighting system varies depending on the size of the house and property. Some companies will charge a flat rate for a certain number of lights. An average outdoor lighting job will range from $1,500 to $5,000, but each installation is tailored to the unique landscape. Make sure the fixtures being used are premium brands and include a good warranty.

“If you are going to make the investment, the quality is critical,” Fennel says. When looking for an outdoor lighting specialist, find one who is properly insured and carries the Georgia State contractor’s low-voltage license, which is different from a general contractor’s license. If you get the lighting installed properly the first time, it can light all the seasons for many years to come.