Garden lighting
Encyclopedia
Landscape lighting or garden lighting refers to the use of outdoor illumination
of private garden
s and public landscape
s; for the enhancement and purposes of safety, nighttime aesthetics, accessibility
, security, recreation
and sport
s, and social and event uses.
and garden
s have been illuminated
for as long as interior structures
have; for security, circulation
, and social occasions; since ancient times by firelight from wood, candle
s, and animal-plant oil fuels in torch
es, sconce
s and lantern
s. Since the 19th century's introductions of new interior illumination fuels, the technology has then been used outdoors and in gardens. As municipal systems were developed for their power delivery; Gas lighting
of the 19th century and electric light
of the 20th century became part of exterior functioning and design.
remains the most used source for landscape lighting in the early twenty-first century. With the combination of energy costs from energy demands, increasing availability of sustainable design
methods, global warming
considerations, and aesthetic and safety concerns in garden
and landscape design
the methods and equipment of outdoor illumination have been evolving. The increasing use of solar power
, low voltage
fixtures, energy efficient lamp bulbs-xenon
bulbs-fiber optics, and creative lighting design are examples of innovation in the field.
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
of private garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s and public landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
s; for the enhancement and purposes of safety, nighttime aesthetics, accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
, security, recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
and sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s, and social and event uses.
History
The public landscapeLandscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
and garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s have been illuminated
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
for as long as interior structures
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
have; for security, circulation
Circulation (architecture)
In the field of architecture, circulation refers to the way people move through and interact with a building. In public buildings, circulation is of high importance; for example, in buildings such as museums, it is key to have a floor plan that allows continuous movement while minimizing the...
, and social occasions; since ancient times by firelight from wood, candle
Candle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
s, and animal-plant oil fuels in torch
Torch
A torch is a fire source, usually a rod-shaped piece of wood with a rag soaked in pitch and/or some other flammable material wrapped around one end. Torches were often supported in sconces by brackets high up on walls, to throw light over corridors in stone structures such as castles or crypts...
es, sconce
Sconce (light fixture)
A sconce is a type of light fixture affixed to a wall in such a way that it uses only the wall for support, and the light is usually directed upwards. It does not have a base on the ground...
s and lantern
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
s. Since the 19th century's introductions of new interior illumination fuels, the technology has then been used outdoors and in gardens. As municipal systems were developed for their power delivery; Gas lighting
Gas lighting
Gas lighting is production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, or natural gas. Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most...
of the 19th century and electric light
Electric light
Electric lights are a convenient and economic form of artificial lighting which provide increased comfort, safety and efficiency. Most electric lighting is powered by centrally-generated electric power, but lighting may also be powered by mobile or standby electric generators or battery systems...
of the 20th century became part of exterior functioning and design.
Current
Conventionally generated and sourced electricityElectricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
remains the most used source for landscape lighting in the early twenty-first century. With the combination of energy costs from energy demands, increasing availability of sustainable design
Sustainable design
Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
methods, global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
considerations, and aesthetic and safety concerns in garden
Garden design
Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expertise...
and landscape design
Landscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
the methods and equipment of outdoor illumination have been evolving. The increasing use of solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
, low voltage
Low voltage
Low voltage when used as an electrical engineering term concerning an electricity supply grid or industrial use, broadly identifies safety considerations of the system based on the voltage used. The meaning of the term "low voltage" is somewhat different when used with regard to a more typical end...
fixtures, energy efficient lamp bulbs-xenon
Xenon
Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. The element name is pronounced or . A colorless, heavy, odorless noble gas, xenon occurs in the Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts...
bulbs-fiber optics, and creative lighting design are examples of innovation in the field.
Power sources
The outdoor lighting can be powered by:- Electricity
- conventional source electricity-based fixtures —fixed post, wall, hanging, in-grade, tree mount, stake-mount, stationary, and movable fixtures:
- Line voltage: 120V - light bulbs, Compact fluorescent lamps-bulbsCompact fluorescent lampA compact fluorescent lamp , also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps...
, custom neon lampNeon lampA neon lamp is a miniature gas discharge lamp that typically contains neon gas at a low pressure in a glass capsule. Only a thin region adjacent to the electrodes glows in these lamps, which distinguishes them from the much longer and brighter neon tubes used for signage...
s - Low voltage: 12V - light bulbs, fiber optics
- Line voltage: 120V - light bulbs, Compact fluorescent lamps-bulbs
- solar source electricity based fixtures:
- On each fixture - photovoltaicsPhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
- light bulbs - from property's solar panel system - light bulbs, fiber optics
- On each fixture - photovoltaics
- rechargeRechargeGroundwater recharge or deep drainage or deep percolation is a hydrologic process where water moves downward from surface water to groundwater. This process usually occurs in the vadose zone below plant roots and is often expressed as a flux to the water table surface...
able battery fixtures - table top lanterns
- conventional source electricity-based fixtures —fixed post, wall, hanging, in-grade, tree mount, stake-mount, stationary, and movable fixtures:
- Other
- natural gas - fixed post lamps and wall lanterns, flex-connection fixtures
- propane - table top portable lanterns, flex-connection fixtures
- oil fuels - hurricane lamps, 'camping lanterns'
- fireFireFire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
-based flame - candle lanterns, outdoor fireplaceOutdoor fireplaceAn outdoor fireplace is a place for building fires outside of the home. Similar in construction to an indoor fireplace, an outdoor fireplace is usually added to a stone, brick, or concrete patio. It often consists of a firebox and a chimney. As with indoor fireplaces, an outdoor fireplace...
's, chimineas, fire bowls, "tiki-torches"
Lighting components
There are many different types of landscape lighting systems, controls and switching, wiring connections, fixture types, functions-purposes-styles, and light sources.- Components can include:
- Power
- connection to main property power source (code and permit determined)
- Transformers (12v and multi-tap transformers)
- Timers
- Light sensor switching (photocells)
- motion sensor switching
- Manual 'light switches'
- automated light switching units-systems
- remote lighting switching - on-property devices, off-site phone or online systems
- Electric wiring
- conduitElectrical conduitAn electrical conduit is an electrical piping system used for protection and routing of electrical wiring. Electrical conduit may be made of metal, plastic, fiber, or fired clay. Flexible conduit is available for special purposes....
- underground for line voltage, vulnerable locations, under or in constructed elements-pavements - cable, wire - underground per codes for line and low voltageLow voltageLow voltage when used as an electrical engineering term concerning an electricity supply grid or industrial use, broadly identifies safety considerations of the system based on the voltage used. The meaning of the term "low voltage" is somewhat different when used with regard to a more typical end...
, above ground at stake-mounted and tree mounted fixtures.
- conduit
- Light Fixtures - fixed location - line voltage (120V U.S.) and low voltage (12V U.S.)
- Post mount - column mount
- Address light
- Wall mount
- Ceiling mount - hanging fixture
- Security lights
- Tree lights - up and down lights
- In-grade fixtures- uplights buried in-ground - top flush with surface
- Adjustable aim "bullet" - uplight
- sports court lights - ie: tennis courtTennis courtA tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s - portable fixtures "hard-wired" or "plug-in" 'wet location rated' interior style fixtures
- string lighting - "holiday lights" - bulbs and LED
- Light fixtures - low voltageLow voltageLow voltage when used as an electrical engineering term concerning an electricity supply grid or industrial use, broadly identifies safety considerations of the system based on the voltage used. The meaning of the term "low voltage" is somewhat different when used with regard to a more typical end...
(12V U.S.) - modest location adjustments- path lights
- area lights
- uplights (directional, spot, and flood lights)- stake mount
- wall lights - surface mount
- tree-mount lights - down lights
- deck lights - surface mount
- well lights - mounted below grade
- hardscape lights- integrated into walls.
- step lights - recessed into stair risers
- rope lighting - fiber optics
- Power
Lamp Types
-
- MR16 - 10w, 20w, 35w, 50w. Come in a variety of beam angles from narrow spot (12 degrees, spot 24 degrees, flood 36 degrees, wide flood 60 degrees).
- Bi Pin - 10w, 20w, 35w, 50w. G4 and G5.3 pin configurations
- PAR36 - 20w, 35w, 50w
- T3 Wedge
- Single Contact Bayonet (SCB)
- LED MR16 (retrofit lamp)
- LED Bi Pin
- Integrated LED Lamps - LED chips and driver are built-in to the fixture (permanently)
Underwater
- Water featureWater featureIn landscape architecture and garden design, a water feature is one or more items from a range of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. Before the 18th century they were usually powered by gravity, though the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon are described by Strabo as...
s- swimming poolSwimming poolA swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
s - hot tubHot tubA hot tub is a large tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking, relaxation, massage, or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy....
s - plunge poolPlunge poolA plunge pool can be a natural hydrologic fluvial landform feature or a constructed recreational garden feature...
s - water gardenWater gardenWater gardens, also known as aquatic gardens, are a type of man-made water feature. A water garden is defined as any interior or exterior landscape or architectural element whose primarily purpose is to house, display, or propagate a particular species or variety of aquatic plant...
s - reflecting poolReflecting poolA reflecting pool or reflection pool is a water feature found in gardens, parks, and at memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a calm reflective...
s - fountainFountainA fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
s - garden ponds
- constructed streams and waterfalls
- swimming pool
- Light sources - underwater
- fixed mount fixtures - ie: pool wall light
- movable uplights
- fiber optic accent and feature lights - light upon
- fiber optic feature lights - light within - ie: water column lighting
- floating fixture lights - reghargeable battery & solar photovoltaic
See also
- Lighting designerLighting designerThe role of the lighting designer within theatre is to work with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create an overall 'look' for the show in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety and cost...
- Garden designGarden designGarden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expertise...
er - Landscape designLandscape designLandscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
er - Landscape architectLandscape architectA landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
- Lighting for the elderlyLighting for the elderlyDesigning lighting for the elderly requires special consideration and care from architects and lighting designers. As people age, they experience neural degeneration in the retina and in the suprachiasmatic nucleus...
- Light pollutionLight pollutionLight pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
- Architectural lighting designArchitectural lighting designArchitectural lighting design is a field within architecture and architectural engineering that concerns itself primarily with the illumination of buildings. The objective of architectural lighting design is to obtain sufficient light for the purposes of the building, balancing factors of initial...
- Lighting for the elderlyLighting for the elderlyDesigning lighting for the elderly requires special consideration and care from architects and lighting designers. As people age, they experience neural degeneration in the retina and in the suprachiasmatic nucleus...
External Links
- Garden Lighting advice and tips
- Landscape Lighting Installation Instructions and Tutorials
- LED outdoor lighting guide
- Example of an Integrated LED Landscape Lighting Fixture
- Example of an LED retrofit bulb (MR16 LED bulb)
Other sources
- The Landscape Lighting Book; Janet Lennox Moyer; John Wiley and Sons; 2005; ISBN 0-471-45136-3.