Make Your Houston Home More Aesthetically Pleasing With Landscape Lighting

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Use Outdoor Lighting To Improve Your Houston Home’s Exterior Appearance

Everyone wants their home to be the one that turns heads – for a good reason. If you are interested in making your home more appealing, consider adding lighting to the exterior of the property to enhance its appearance. For example, you could put lighting in your driveway and sidewalk, add a spotlight to highlight a certain feature of your home, or even put lights on your front porch.

Bring In The Landscape Lighting Houston Experts

The first step in this process is to bring in the experts to help you with your lighting project. Even if you think you can handle it on your own, there are certain benefits associated with working with a professional. Lighting experts follow the industry closely and are aware of new products and technologies. They can design a plan that works well for your home and your needs. In addition, they understand where the lights need to go to make the maximum impact. A homeowner that doesn’t have professional lighting experience probably will not understand these nuances. We generally focus on four types of landscape lighting. These types of lighting help us achieve just the right look for our customers time and time again. For example, uplighting fixtures point toward the sky and make a big impact in any space. Downlighting, when properly placed, helps with visibility and can make a dark area much brighter. Zonal lighting is placed when you want to put a spotlight on certain things in your yard. And finally, moonlighting gives you a gentle glow that is reminiscent of the moon’s rays. We get creative with the placement of the fixtures in order to give the homeowner what they are looking for.

If you want to improve the exterior of your home, follow this advice to make the most of what you have.

Why it outdoor lighting for your home so important? The appearance of your home says a lot about an individual. It also is inputted for safety purposes. First, brighten up your walkways. Path lights don’t cost a lot of money and aren’t usually very fancy, but they can make a big difference in the way the exterior of your home looks. They keep you from tripping when it is dark outside, and they can also be used to highlight different features of your home. Next, focus on your front door. In order to draw others in, it should be lit up nicely, so that people know to walk to it. In addition, when you have the proper lighting, you generally keep people away that shouldn’t be on your property in the first place. Lighting fixtures can say a lot about who you are and your personal style. Pick something up on the front porch that speaks to you. Not only will it look great, but illuminating your porch is always a good idea because it provides additional security. If you have areas of your yard that stay dark, pick up lighting to help brighten the space. Again, doing so is a security feature that helps deter criminals from walking onto your property. The lighting also looks good, though, and can show off areas of your house that were unable to be seen before. Use lighting to showcase different parts of your landscaping or yard. What good is it to have a fountain, for example, if no one can see it at night? The right lighting can make everything look better.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

The Common Types Of Houston Landscape Lighting System Techniques

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Popular Houston Landscape Lighting Techniques To Make Your Home More Beautiful

When it comes to achieving the optimal landscape-lighting system, experts use a number of techniques to arrive at the best results. Houston Landscape Lighting offers a list of the more common techniques along with their associated benefits:

1. Uplighting

This is a popular technique used for showcasing or highlighting features on your property such as archways, trees, columns, and windows.

2. Downlighting

This technique offers increased ambient illumination. This is achieved by placing the light upon eaves or in trees, that allows for a way to illuminate larger areas. This is a technique that is preferred for security and safety and outdoor entertaining.

3. Grazing

This type of lighting is recommended by Houston Landscape Lighting for houses with stone or brick walls, retaining walls, chimneys, and fences. This technique works well with these elements as it illuminates them.

4. Shadowing

This effective technique can enhance the existing security-lighting around your home. Trees that feature an interesting shape can also be showcased when positioning the lighting-fixtures in front of the feature, that casts shadows on vertical surfaces that stand behind them.

5. Silhouetting

Another popular technique to showcase structures or trees that offer unique shapes. In order to achieve this appeal, the fixtures need to be positioned directly behind these trees or structures which then points to vertical surfaces that are behind them.

Tips For Outdoor Lighting Systems

Summer is almost over, but this is no reason to stop enjoying your outdoor areas. Every season offers more than enough opportunities for entertaining. Below are a few tips from Houston Landscape Lighting on how to enhance outdoor lighting system for each season.

1. Creating Your Ideal Space

In the months of summer, most homeowners love spending time outdoors, relaxing close to the pool or using their gardens for entertaining purposes. However, in the month of fall or winter, you probably spend your time elsewhere. When you enhance areas like patios, decks or firepits, you are still able to enjoy the colder nights.

2. Make Sure Your Property Is Easy To Navigate

It is important that your existing outdoor-lighting system operates accordingly and that you have adjusted the timers when necessary. When your outdoor-lighting system fails to support the security and safety of your friends, family and guests, and your property, it becomes important to install the type that can achieve these goals.

3. Enhancing Your Décor

Whether you prefer lanterns, string lights or even colored lights, this form of lighting will provide your home with dramatic effects and increase your overall curb appeal.

4. Conserving Energy

Make sure you invest in energy-efficient lighting options like halogen or LED lights for an outdoor-lighting system, this will contribute to decreasing your energy bills, and these lights are a more environmentally friendly choice.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

Why Outdoor Lighting Is Important For Your Houston TX Home

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Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Outdoor Lighting

Summer has made it to Texas, and this spring we have been enjoying gorgeous weather that is great for outdoor entertaining. We’re very lucky living here and having the ability to enjoy our outdoor areas most of the year. Homeowners all over Texas are ready to spend more time outdoors with the wonderful weather. Therefore, isn’t it a smart idea to create an inviting and warm oasis for your family and guests to enjoy? Homeowners spend lots of money on their outdoor living spaces, including on outdoor kitchens, decks, patios, swimming pools, and much more. However, what about after sunset? What happens then?

Is it time to pack everything up and go back indoors? Or sit around tables full of citronella candles so that everybody smells like smoke and bug spray at the end of the night? What about returning to your vehicles that are parked in front of the house? Not having the right outdoor home lighting Houston for your outdoor areas is inconvenient and also means you are at the mercy of the sun. In addition, there is a security and safety aspect to why outdoor lighting is so important for your home.

Reasons why it is important to invest in good outdoor lighting for your Houston home

1. Overall Experience

The most obvious reason is, of course, that your outdoor entertaining experiences are enhanced by outdoor lighting. Having the right outdoor lighting provides you with the chance to use all of your outdoor features safely and enjoy them after the sun goes down.

2. Your home’s security and safety are increased by outdoor lighting.

There are many ways that outdoor lighting may be implemented in order to increase your home’s security and safety along with the people at your house. Having a well-lit driveway or walk can make a big difference in helping to prevent people from injuring themselves or falling. Outdoor lighting can also help to deter criminals from making your home a target, to give you increased peace of mind.

3. Increase The Curb Appeal Of Your Home

Outdoor lighting can significantly enhance your home’s outer appearance to provide your neighbors and visitors with a very positive impression. Another great reason for increasing your home’s curb appeal is because when you are ready to sell your house, great outdoor lighting can really help to attract the right buyer for your home. It is possible to customize outdoor lighting, which means that Robert Huff Lighting can have our professionals design a lighting system for you that will draw positive attention to the best qualities of your home, including its landscaping and architecture to increase the value and curb appeal of your property.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

Save Money With Outdoor LED Landscape Lighting For Your Houston Home

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Learn How You Can Use Outdoor LED Lighting To Save Money

LED is short for a light-emitting diode. It’s among the more energy-efficient options you have for modern lighting. The efficiency of them makes them quite appealing to many homeowners, and things continue to improve as the technology matures. LED lights aren’t some fad that’s overhyped or going to disappear from the market in the near future, so a lot of homeowners are now confident that they can maintain and even replace LED systems when need be in the future.

How Do LED Lights Differ From Other Lights?

Per the United States Department of Energy, there are a number of distinct features of LED lights that make them quite different from incandescent lights and even other options that are newer, such as CFLs, or compact fluorescent bulbs. To start with, every light-emitting diode is really minuscule in size, like the size of an actual grain of ground pepper. Diodes of various hues combine together in a single light to create the color of white. Altering this mixture of colors allows LED lights to have different tints.

Secondly, it’s quite easy to control the light direction using LED systems. That minimizes your need for shades or reflectors, which sometimes prove to be fire hazards or get too hot if they’re paired with conventional incandescent bulbs. If you have installations such as recessed lighting, LEDs prove to be an ideal choice. If an incandescent bulb is used in such a lighting system, then a fraction of its light gets lost from being reflected into a particular direction, which increases how much energy is necessary for the lighting of that space.

LEDs also get noticeably cooler as compared to CFLs or incandescents. That coolness means they’re safer for you to handle, and it’s also symptomatic of their energy efficiency. On the flip side, incandescent bulbs release nearly 90 percent of their energy simply as heat, and it’s still 80 percent for CFLs.

Also, an LED bulb’s lifespan is about 50,000 hours. In contrast, incandescent lights only last around 1,200 hours. This shorter lifespan drives up the cost in the long run since incandescent bulbs have to be replaced far more frequently.

Landscape Lighting Demands Robust Fixture Quality

LEDs often prove ideal for exterior lighting due to their lack of heat, low maintenance, efficiency, and long-running cost-effectiveness. So, what do homeowners need to look out for if they plan to make the switch to this kind of lighting for their entertainment areas, walkways, yards, and porches or decks? The need to make sure that they don’t just settle for the cheapest possible fixture choices. LED bulbs can last a very long time, but an outdoor fixture has to be constructed to be sturdy and durable so it can withstand the elements.

Want a hint of the expected hardiness? Check out the warranty length. Stainless steel, aluminum, and brass fixtures are usually higher in price than plastic choices, but they’re also in better shape to put up with what mother nature is going to throw at them. If you need outdoor landscape lighting in Houston, make sure to consider, the best outdoor lighting company in Houston.

Comparing LEDs To Compact Fluorescent Lights

CFL bulbs certainly prove to be a rational upgrade above incandescent bulbs when talking about efficiency. Since fluorescent lights typically fit into conventional incandescent fixtures, they’re not that much of an initial investment. They certainly offer you savings on your utilities, but CFLs do have a big downside, and that is mercury. When a fluorescent bulb breaks, it’s often troublesome to clean things up given the gases, but this isn’t an issue with LEDs, so they might make a safer choice if you’re renting any temporary fabric structures.

One final thing to take into consideration is a light’s expected look. LED options can honestly prove disappointing here. Incandescent bulbs often have a rather warm look. Homeowners might expect to get that same attractive glow from even other types of lights. On the other hand, the light from LEDs might seem harsher. They can also emit blue-hued rays which aren’t always expected by people new to this kind of lighting. Fortunately, those that develop LED technology are working on mixing different combinations of the various diodes so that they might mimic incandescents so they offer more various looks.

Get The Right Look By Using Color Temperature

Buyers need to know that new LED lights mean comparing many different options. Your local home improvement store might even have a display at the end of an aisle that demonstrates the different possibilities. At a minimum, the box of each bulb should offer a color description covering the light style emitted by the bulb. Color temperature helps predict just what bulbs are going to look like if they’re turned on.

Call us now or contact us today for more information on starting or finishing a new or existing outdoor lighting project!

LED Landscape Lighting For Your Houston Home

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Tips On How To Make The Switch To LED Lighting

Would you like to lower your energy costs? Most people constantly scrutinize their electric bills, and since lighting is something you have a lot of control over, you can also help to control the amount of energy that you use. Although most people know that moving away from incandescent bulbs is more cost-efficient, some compact fluorescent bulbs that are available in the marketplace are expensive and don’t provide the same warmth that incandescent bulbs do. However, there are now LED (short for Light Emitting Diode) bulbs that have arrived on the scene that can be used outdoors as well as indoors.

When you hear LED you might think of the red lights on a ticker style of sign or those powerful small lights on pocket flashlights. However, LED lights can also be used in your yard and home.

6 Benefits Of Using LED Lighting

1. More light is produced per watt compared to fluorescents and incandescent bulbs. They also don’t generate any heat. Those two qualities help to save on electricity when it comes to lighting costs and helps to keep a room cool that can get overheated when incandescent bulbs are used.

2. Are hard to damage or break compared to incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

3. Have longer useful lifespans (60,000 hours estimated) compared with incandescents (only 1,000-2,000 hours) and fluorescent tubes (about 30,000 hours). A quality LED light can give you 17 years worth of use or even more.

4. LEDs dim when they start burning out. This is preferable, especially in safety situations (basement stairs, garages, etc.) compared to an incandescent of CFL (compact fluorescent light) where the only way that you know it isn’t working is when the bulb doesn’t illuminate when you flip the switch.

5. LEDs light up fast.

6. There is no mercury contained in LEDs like there are in CFLs.

The one drawback that LED lighting has is the upfront cost. They are more expensive compared to conventional lighting technologies. But you usually can recoup your costs within one year by having to replace the bulbs less frequently and by having lower energy bills.

Indoor Uses

You might have your own personal lighting preferences, but generally speaking, “natural white” and “cool light” are great options for general ambient lighting and also spaces that need more task lighting, such as home offices, studies, and kitchen. A yellow hue is cast by incandescent lights. When LEDs are used you have more flexibility for using the lights throughout the different rooms in your house.

Generally speaking, natural white and cool lights are reliable options for most spaces and uses, however, a “daylight” or “natural” bulb is recommended for reading.

Outdoor Uses

Some people say that UV lights are something that many bugs are attracted do, and there are some LED lights that don’t emit UV light. So it may be worthwhile to explore LED landscape lighting options for your backyard to help reduce how many insects your lighting attract. LEDs have long lives, so they are ideal for those hard to reach lights that are on the exterior of your house, whether they are lights that need to be turned off and on frequently, back and front door lights, or floodlights.

Call us now or contact us today for more information regarding starting or finishing a new or existing outdoor lighting project of yours!

Most Common Causes Of Circuit Breaker Problems

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Learn Frequent Causes Of Circuit Breaker Trips, Short Circuits, And Overloads

Your fuse box and/or circuit breaker is a critical component of your larger electrical system. It gives your electrical devices and wiring protection from prospective damage or excessive current that might trigger a fire to start.

The main function of your fuse box and circuit breaker is protecting your electrical system from things like damage and fires by first shutting off any current when there is a short circuit or an overload. Without a circuit breaker, unlimited amounts or levels of electricity might flow into your house and start a fire. A tripped breaker or a blown fuse often seem like a nuisance, but it’s still much better than having irreparable damage to costly appliances and electronics, or worse yet, a fire in your home.

Any fuse that cuts off power has to get replaced. However, a circuit breaker can just be reset. Learn what steps are necessary to replace any tripped circuit breaker or replace blown fuses.

Do your breakers trip very often? Learn three of the most common causes behind tripping circuit breakers, as well as what you might do about it.

Just Why Do Your Circuit Breakers Get Tripped?

There are two main reasons why a circuit breaker trips. The first is an overloaded circuit, which is just too much power. The second is a short circuit, which is when the electricity goes down an incorrect pathway. The third reason is often aging circuit breakers that have to get replaced.

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting | Outdoor Lighting Preservation in Houston TexasReason For Overloaded Circuit:

When any breaker trips, it’s usually a result of one overloaded circuit. Each of your electrical panel’s circuits was designed so they could handle specific amounts of power or electricity. That’s typically 15-amp circuits. Some areas of your home might need to actually handle larger loads. That’s often rooms like your laundry, your kitchen, or bathrooms. Those typically have 20-amp circuits instead. Large appliances might also get dedicated circuits, like water heaters or HVAC systems. Those are often served by 30 or even 50-amp circuits.

All these various circuits have limits, which are measured in amps. If the demand for power exceeds the level or amount of electricity which a breaker can handle safely, then it detects a discrepancy and trips the breaker prior to there being a hazard of overheating or even fire.

You can easily identify the maximum current rating for every circuit, just be looking at your breaker. Each handle should have the maximum amperage written on it.

When you happen to overload any circuit, then it means you’re trying to push an excess of power through a single circuit. That often happens if you’re running a pair or more of big energy-consumers simultaneously. That could be a vacuum and a space heater, a microwave and a television, or a toaster with a window air conditioning unit.

Given that most circuits are built for 15 amps, asking for 20 is going to trip your breaker so you don’t have overheating or a fire hazard.

How you can solve this issue:

If you happen to be overloading any circuit, there is a reason behind it. If you want to keep it from occurring again, then plug one of your biggest energy consumers into one of the other circuits. You might also just stop using one device. In winter, circuits often get overloaded by space heaters. If there are times where you are warm enough, consider unplugging your space heater for a short while.

Older and/or damaged appliances are also potential causes, so it’s critical that you do rudimentary maintenance. It’s a good idea to have an annual electrical safety inspection to make sure that all your installed hardware is still in robust condition. If your home has exterior lights or outlets, use a Houston outdoor lighting professional for your inspection to be sure about everything.

Short Circuit:

Can you think back to science classes in elementary school? You might just remember that closed circuits let currents flow and that open circuits shut the flow off. A short circuit, alternatively, happens when an unintended and direct connection between a pair of points occurs. Electric current always takes a path of least resistance, so a short circuit is most likely going to happen given that electricity is inherently ‘lazy.’

Any short circuit is going to indicate a black or ‘hot’ wire has started touching another wire, which is either another hot wire or a ‘white’ neutral wire. Another scenario involves a hot wire becoming grounded, which might cause the breaker to then trip.

Warning: When any hot wire interacts with any other wire inside your electrical system, then an excess of current gets generated. That creates an abundance of heat and can trigger overheating, circuit damage, and even possibly a fire. Since there’s nothing there to absorb that electricity, any heat buildup is going to happen quickly. That’s just one of many reasons it’s critical to have circuit interrupters in your electrical system.

How you can solve this issue:

If a short circuit is what you have going on, then it’s critical to check out all of your receptacles, light switches, and plugged-in cords for damage. Find the tripped breaker to investigate the circuit which it’s connected to. Make sure the circuits are labeled inside the electrical panel if they haven’t been already, or just confirm the labeling is right.

If you don’t discover issues in your home, consider that outdoor lighting or exterior outlets are an issue, and call in a Houston outdoor lighting professional to check things out.

Should your nose pick up the scent of burning plastic, which might also smell like sulfur or a rotten egg, then you need to call in a professional electrician anyway. Light switches or outlets with burning smells often indicate dangerous wiring situations that might trigger electrical fires. Other signs of possible damage include black or brown discoloration and/or switches or outlets that are sometimes hot when you touch them.

Also look for damaged appliances and frayed cords. In some cases, the short circuit happens inside the appliance itself.

If a short circuit is what you suspect, then you need to turn off any power to that circuit from your electrical panel and then wait until you can have a qualified electrician come out to inspect the circumstances before anyone turns the power back on. When electrical components or wires get crossed, the results are very hazardous, so you need an electrician. More than likely, that professional can replace your bad breaker or let you know which specific appliance is causing issues.

Are your breakers frequently tripping? You might have faulty wiring or loose connections inside the electrical system. A tripping breaker is a strong indication that you need to have an electrician look at your electrical system. If any parts of it go to the exterior of your home, then you might want to get a Houston outdoor lighting professional on the case, as they can handle electrical and wiring issues both inside your home and out.

An Older And/Or Weaker Circuit Breaker Panel:

Short circuits and overload conditions account for most of the tripped breakers that happen. A third potential cause is an older electrical panel which just gets weaker and trips since it can’t handle an electrical load safely any longer.

In Conclusion

Robert Huff Illumination and Outdoor Lighting provides the best solutions for outdoor lighting here in Houston. You will be at peace knowing you are getting your projects done the right way by Houston’s best professionals in outdoor lighting services. Call now or contact Robert Huff Illumination here.

 

Some Tools Of The Trade When It Comes To LED Lighting in Houston

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LED Lighting Guide And LED FAQs

What does LED mean?

LED is short for light-emitting diode.

What is an LED?

An LED is a kind of solid-state lighting that utilizes semiconductors for converting electricity to light. An LED uses about 20% of the energy that traditional incandescent used and can last as much as 25 times longer. LED’s, when compared to halogen incandescent, use about 20% of the amount of energy and will last about 8-25 times longer.

Where can LED’s be used?

LED lights may be used in almost all parts of the house. They can be used with all kinds types of bulbs, including MR reflectors, A-shape, PAR reflectors, recessed, under cabinet and decorative. They may be used to replace 75W, 60W and 40W light bulbs.

Should I make the switch over to LED lighting?

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting | Houston LED LightingLED’s are well-known to produce less heat, have better energy efficiency and have longer lifespans when compared with traditional lighting. They also function effectively in both extreme cold and heat and are resistant to shocks and vibrations.

The following are some of the major benefits of LED lighting:

Longer Lifespan – LED lights last up to 10,000 hours or 20 years, which compared to traditional incandescent is about 50 times longer.

More Energy Efficient – When compared to halogens and incandescents use less than 1/6th of the amount of energy.

Lower Maintenance Costs – Enhanced durability and longer lifespan translates into less money and time to maintain and replace lights.

Safe to Use – Because LEDs do not emit harmful IR or UV radiation, contain mercury, or heat up, they are safe to use around humans, flammable objects and art.

More Durable – LEDS don’t use glass bulbs or filaments and are made out of plastic, so they are a lot harder to break and last longer.

Easier to Use – Their higher efficiency allows you to string together multiple LEDs together easily without the circuit getting overloaded. The other bulbs stay lit if one burns out.

Why do LEDs cost more than other bulbs?

The reason why LEDs cost more is because it is more expensive to make them. However, over the long-term they save you money since they reduce replacement, maintenance and energy costs. Prices are expected to go down as technology continues to improve.

What is it about LEDs that make them different compared to other types of bulbs?

There are several different ways that LED lighting differs from other lighting choices:

Light source – LED’s are quite small, only around the size of a dot. They are available in various colors, including color-changing LEDs, white, blue, green and red.

Direction – Light is emitted by LEDs in a specific direction, which eliminates the need for diffusers and reflectors which are used for trapping light. Rather than needing to reflect the light the life within the desired direction in the process losing light and energy, LED make directing light in the direction that you want it easy. That is why it is highly recommended to use LEDs for task lighting, uplighting and recessed downlighting.

We recommend that you use LEDs to replace most of your bulbs, including undercabinet lights, lamps, track lights, recessed fixtures, security lighting and outdoor lighting.

There are various colors to choose form, including motion, daylight and dimmable sensors. LEDs work very well in practically every fixture and area of your house.

So what is the difference between more expensive LED bulbs ($40-$60) and cheaper LED lights ($5-$10)?

Like TVs and other electronics, the more expensive and cheaper versions do have differences among them. For the best energy efficiency and light quality, you should purchase the LED products that cost more.

Light quality is measured by the Color Rendering Index on a 1-100 scale. Search for a CRI rating of 90 or higher.

Will enough light be produced by an LED replacement to replace my original bulb?

In terms of light output, LED light are quite similar to other light bulbs. However, you should visit a lighting store and see exactly how a space is light up by the LED light bulb.

LED lights are now able to replace an incandescent of up to 100 watts effectively.

Just how energy efficient is an LED?

LEDs are actually the most energy efficient lighting options that is available. The way that light bulb efficiency gets measured is by lumens per watt or how much the light output (lumens) is per power unit (watt). According to a U.S. Energy Information Administration report, the EIA is projecting that by 2020 LEDs will be producing over 150 lumens per Watt.

Traditional incandescent, by comparison, produce about 13 to 18 lumens per watt. LEDs currently produce about 83 to 100 lumens per watt, which is still the best efficiency available from light bulbs. There continues to be advances in LED technology in terms of energy efficiency, and also improved quality and color temperature.

Remember that the LED bulb isn’t the only thing determining its energy efficiency. That is because the bulb works along with the light fixture. How much electricity is consumed will depend on both the light fixture design and LED device. If a light fixture is poorly design it will comprise even LED devices that are the most efficient.

That is why it is so important that professional electricians be hired for designing and installing your LED outdoor lighting in Houston as well as your indoor LED lights. LED efficiency does vary by device. To find the most efficient LED devices search for the ENERGY STAR label. Staring this year, LED devices are available at over 100 lumens per watt.

When purchasing LEDs, what should I be looking for?

Always search for lights that an independent testing laboratory has tested and read the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing.

If you are going to use LED lights outdoor, be sure they have been rated for using outdoors.

Enjoy all of the Benefits that Outdoor LED Lighting provide

Lighting architects and designers prefer using LED for their outdoor lighting applications. That is because they prove arm white light without having to sacrifice lumen output.

Improve lighting quality and minimize energy consumption by contacting Robert Huff Illumination for all of your outdoor LED lighting needs.

LED holiday lights are available in a broad range of styles and colors, including globe lights, icicles, rope lights and twinkle lights.

For more information on outdoor LED options, call or contact Robert Huff Illumination.

Tips For Keeping The Mulch Low And Your Lights Bright

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Mulching: Landscape Lighting Maintenance

Mulching is beneficial to plant materials and is aesthetically pleasing. Mulching has many advantages but can cause problems to your landscape lighting system. There are ways to address some of these common problems and provide tips to keep your outdoor lighting system working properly.

Are the lights out? Check The Mulch

If the lighting is out in an area where you’ve placed mulch, it’s possible that the lighting fixtures have been buried. This is common with lighting fixtures that are low to the ground. You’ll want to unbury the fixtures and clear the mulch around the lights.

Always let the landscaping company know about any outdoor lighting system you have installed. As the landscaper to not cover the fixtures when applying the mulch. Also, request that the landscaper removes any old mulch before they add the new mulch. If they add too much mulch to the area, it can trap moisture that’s intended for plants.

If the lights are not covered by mulch and they still don’t work, then it’s possible you may have accidentally cut the wires.

How to Avoid Cutting Outdoor Lighting Wires

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting | Preserving Houston Outdoor Lighting Dealing With MulchCutting outdoor lighting wires are costly and common. This is a problem that is often encountered after a property has been power edged and mulched. Some or all the lighting fixtures may not turn on if this problem occurs. Outdoor lighting services in Houston can help fix this issue.

We recommend hiring an outdoor lighting service technician to repair any cut or frayed wires. They have the experience needed to locate cuts and accurately make repairs that are waterproof. Since each situation is different, it’s important to have a skilled professional do this time-consuming and difficult task.

To prevent the outdoor wires from being cut, we recommend having any wires located and flagged before you use a power edger and apply mulch. When you contact us, let us know when you’re having any services done. A service technician will visit the property to flag and locate wires. The flags let companies know to avoid certain areas.

The power edger blade usually cuts 3 to 4 inches into the ground. At Robert Huff Illumination Outdoor Lighting, we bury lighting wire about 6 to 8 inches. This is deep enough to avoid cutting the wire. Old wires will eventually work their way to the surface. To be safe, it’s better to have your outdoor lighting wires flagged and located before power edging and mulching.

Call or contact Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting today for more information!

The Benefits Of Adding String Lighting To Your Yard

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Create Ambiance with String Light Arrangements

Strings lights are everywhere inside and out during the holiday season, but they are also becoming increasingly popular for every day, permanent use. Homeowners and business owners both use these lights to enhance the ambiance of their homes and businesses.

To clarify things, we are not referring to string lighting sets that you can buy at stores for the holidays. These are professional quality, high-grade lights that can be used outside and still hold up to the elements year after year. One touch of these lights and you will notice the difference they have. They are heavier and come with solid, insulated cording to keep them together.

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting | String Lighting Houston TXWe design, install and maintain customized indoor or outdoor string lighting systems. At Robert Huff Houston Outdoor Lighting we put our clients’ needs ahead of anything else. We aim to determine what each client really wants from their lighting. If they want a beautiful place to relax and enjoy their backyard at night, they may want string lighting from us.

Here is an example. There is a backyard with a wide-open space patio. There are surrounding porches and everything needs accent lighting. We installed lighting along the path around the patio but could tell more was needed. We took four strands of LED string lights and hung them from the porch eaves.

It gave the entire outdoor area romantic whimsy. It enhanced the outdoor fireplace. It looks beautiful but it also helps provide more illumination to the whole area.

String lighting works for commercial properties, too. Whether an entrance to a mall or an outdoor hotel patio, the application of string lights adds fun and an unexpected flair to the outdoor space. With an industrial building, the string lighting adds more of an inviting touch to a nighttime passerby. It looks great.

If string lighting arrangements sound good to you, reach out by giving us a call or contact us here. We cannot wait to work with you to design the custom lighting arrangement for your home or business. It will meet your budget, your taste and your needs so contact us today.

Answering The Question. What Is Color Temperature?

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Color Temperature Guide

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting | Color Temperature & Outdoor Lighting in HoustonIn its most basic form, light has numerous characteristics with each of them being described in their unique way. Features like angle, softness, hardness, intensity and even movement can play a significant role in the ways we interpret what we are seeing with our eyes. The various qualities that light possesses can also affect our mood as well as the emotional response we have to our surroundings. The color is another essential quality of the light that we see on a daily basis. Bold lighting colors, of course, are frequently used by the entertainment industry for creating spectacle, excitement or mood. However, in our daily lives, we all encounter color variations that are more subtle but just as important. Those variations, ranging from Moonlight’s cool tint as it filters through the trees, the noonday sun’s bright white, or warmth from a firelight are referred to as Color Temperature.

Color temperature, when referencing the lighting industry, is measured in degrees Kelvin (K), with cool light being on the higher end (with daylight at 5500K) and warm light on the lower end of the scale (with incandescent light bulbs being at 2700-3000K). In the lighting industry, color temperature is extremely important where color affects a space’s emotional impact and mood. The following is a list of some of the more popular shades along with the environments that you find them in:

Warmer White Lighting: This type of lighting is preferred for living and dining areas inside a home to provide a relaxed environment. Warm white light often makes warmer earth tones like woodwork and stone look their best.

Natural White Lighting

This is ideal for areas such as bathrooms and kitchens where detailed lighting is needed.

Daylight White Lighting

Occupants tend to be kept alert by this kind of lighting so it works great for office spaces and stores.

Cool White Lighting

This is viewed as a type of clean, cooler lighting and is frequently used in industrial locations, garages, and hospitals.

Within the lighting industry, numerous techniques are used for creating the best color temperature for a specific space. A cool white light is naturally produced by fluorescent lighting. That is why a majority of large retail locations, hospitals, and office have a tendency to heavily rely on fluorescent light for most of their lighting needs. However, these same office buildings using fluorescent fixtures within their cubicles will frequently use warmer, incandescent lighting within their reception and lobby areas. That is because warm lighting has a tendency to put individuals at ease and might make their hour wait appear to go by more quickly.

When considering outdoor lighting needs, professional lighting designers such as an outdoor lighting company in Houston Texas will be very careful to choose the best color temperature for whatever surface or area is being lit. As previously mentioned, when a natural surface like brick, wood or stone is being lit, frequently the best choice is warmer light. However, when the goal is to recreate a romantic ambiance that a full moon offers, then we will use a light that has a color temperature that is much bluer. That is due to the fact that the human eye can no longer see the color red at very low light levels but is still able to perceive greens and blues. The phenomena is called the Purkinje Effect, which is named after Johannes Purkinje, who was a 19th-century physiologist.

All of the new LED light fixtures that are available these days provide an abundance of options for professional designers when it comes to choosing the best color temperature for any desired outcome. From cheerful, welcoming warm lighting to cool bright light that is dim and mysterious, there are an endless amount of choices. Combined with all of the other qualities that light possess, almost any effect or mood imaginable may be created. As always, if you ever have any questions about lighting design or color temperatures, just contact us or give us call here at Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting. We are always happy to help you out with any outdoor lighting needs that you have!