Twilight Outdoor Lighting
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Twilight lighting is both a descriptive term use with a certain style of landscape outdoor lights and it is also a brand name.
Generally they are either low voltage lights i.e. they use a step down transformer to derive a low voltage power feed from the mains that is then routed to the lights, or solar powered lights that don’t need a power connection. The light they throw out is generally soft and will not cause light pollution.
Usually, low voltage lighting is easy to install if the ground is soft so the wires can be routed easily. Of course, solar lights don’t need wiring which is a major benefit to offset their sometimes higher purchase cost.
For mains powered lights, you may find its best to mount the transformer indoors although they are weatherproof, because transformers installed outdoors tend to get weather-beaten and bug-infested over time. Also, by installing the transformer indoors, it is easier to reprogram.
Most people program the lights to come on at dusk and remain on for a few hours. After they turn off, they will turn back on if the motion sensor detects movement.
The motion detector and the separate dawn-to-dusk sensor are connected by dedicated low-current connections and are typically placed as follows:
- motion detector on the front of the house so it senses when people enter the property
- light sensor on the side of the house to avoid headlights from automobiles traveling past your home.
Solar Powered Building & Lighting
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The new Ohlone College campus in Newark CA is nearing completion with the campus is scheduled to open for classes in January 2008.
The site will be the first “green” campus in the nation, designed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) [Note 1] Gold or Platinum level certification when the building opens for classes in 2008.
The building has been built to the highest standards of environmental sustainability using best practices of energy conservation. Interestingly, only around 50 buildings in the world have achieved Platinum certification todate.
We suggest that solar electricity is a sensible choice for outdor lighting and Ohlone has gone to town in asolar sense - they have installed 1585 Photovoltaic panels (PVP) on the building’s roof that will provide up to 50% of the building’s energy needs!
Not surprisingly, this is currently the largest installation of PVP panels in the Silicon Valley.
Also of note, as part of the environmental design that qualifies for LEED recognition, the college is using an exterior lighting system with cutoff fixtures to maximize landscape lighting whilst eliminating light pollution in the neighborhood.
Again, the issues of energy consumption and light pollution are imortant design factors in your landscape lighting system. Your objective should be to minimize both aspects.
Note 1: The LEED green building rating system is developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council and is designed to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being.
The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction — Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Stay tuned for information on environmentally friendly outdoor lighting and solar lighting systems.