If your home or business has exterior lighting, it helps deter burglaries and ding-dong ditching. Some insurance companies even offer policy discounts to homes with extra outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting also illuminates tripping hazards like tree roots or sidewalk cracks. This keeps you, your family, and your guests safe from slipping and hurting themselves.

Security

A well-lit exterior is a deterrent to burglars, who are less likely to venture into an area where they can easily be seen. Homeowners often install lighting controlled by photocells, timers, and motion sensors that activate lights only when they detect movement nearby. Energy-efficient options like motion-activated lighting use far less energy than traditional lights, which helps reduce your electric bill and carbon footprint. Many commercial buildings also implement outdoor lighting that serves a variety of purposes. Illuminated walkways, corridors and parking garages help people navigate safely into and away from the building, while lighted signs, statues and landscaping enhance the property’s aesthetic. In addition, illuminated signage can indicate directional information to visitors and inform them of the status of their vehicles (a special type of exterior lighting called vehicle-to-X or V2X features is currently being developed).

Safety

A well-lit property can deter criminals and vandals, as it can create a psychological barrier that discourages trespassers from entering. Exterior lighting Tampa also helps prevent tripping hazards for guests after dark by illuminating and defining paths, stairs and elevation changes. Quality landscape outdoor lighting ranked second in a nationwide survey of homebuyers’ most desirable features, so it can enhance your home’s desirability and increase its value. Besides improving security, adding ambiance and improving architectural elements, a custom-designed lighting system can make your home more welcoming for family and friends and help protect against unwanted intruders. Commercial facilities also rely on exterior lighting to maximize safety, security, visibility and versatility for clients, customers and employees. For example, floodlights (or “street lights”) are commonly used in parking lots and other heavy-traffic areas to provide adequate illumination for people walking around during moonlit hours. Different types of exterior lighting that may be found in commercial spaces include pathway lighting, decorative lighting, landscaping accents and wayfinding signage.

Appeal

In addition to safety and security, exterior lighting is an effective way to add appeal and value to your home or business. Decorative lighting, such as sconces near the front door or lanterns along your walkways, illuminate the details of your home and create an inviting ambiance. Additionally, well-placed lighting can deter potential trespassers by making your property appear occupied. It can also prevent injuries on your property by highlighting tripping hazards like tree roots, uneven sidewalks and potholes. Adding landscaping lighting to your home or business is an easy and cost-effective way to improve its curbside appeal. Good curbside appeal is more important in this buyer’s market than ever. A beautiful, well-lit landscape can set your property apart and make it more attractive to prospective buyers and appraisers. In the long run, lighting your outdoor space is a low-cost investment that can pay dividends.

Energy Efficiency

In addition to boosting security and enhancing curb appeal, exterior lighting is also incredibly energy efficient. Newer lighting technologies and practices offer opportunities for businesses to reduce their energy costs while improving their safety and security profile and making their buildings more visually appealing. For example, commercial parking area lighting can be 50% more energy efficient using LEDs than traditional parking garage illumination. Additionally, pole- and wall-mounted commercial LED fixtures with directional capabilities can illuminate walkways and doorways more efficiently while providing eye-catching accents to these important areas. Lighting controls like occupancy sensors and photosensors can improve efficiency by ensuring that lights are only activated when needed. A qualified, experienced lighting contractor can recommend the right exterior lighting features for your home, business or community space. Considering your property’s unique needs and working within your budget, a well-planned lighting installation will enhance your home or business for years.