Low-voltage Security Lighting Options
Lighting in your front and backyard is a good idea for home security reasons. A burglar is not going to want to ply his trade at the well-lit house on the block, when he can skulk in the shadows of a darker yard across the street. And, of course, lighting makes it safer for you when you're walking up to the front door at night (nobody can hide in the shadows to mug you if there aren't any good shadows!).
Security lighting can also double as landscape lighting, but whatever your reason for adding lights, you probably don't want your energy bill to increase a lot. Fortunately, there are lots of low-voltage lights out there that won't cost you a fortune.
Here are some popular choices:
Mushroom Lights -- these have large shades to direct light downward, so they're perfect for lighting walkways, steps, or highlighting plants.
Floodlights -- perhaps the most common type of security lighting, floodlights provide dramatic silhouettes and offer excellent security. You can mount them on walls and trees, or for a cool landscaping effect, install floodlights in the ground and point them skyward.
Deck lights -- if you've got a deck, you should have some lighting out there for safety at night. Try installing lights along the railings to increase security by broadening the illuminated area around the house.
Well lights -- these are most popular for landscaping, as they allow you to achieve dramatic up-lighting effects on trees, architectural features, statuary, and shrubbery. But any lighting you add to the yard will also improve the security of your home at night.
Remember to look for low-voltage options to help save money. All these types of lights are available in energy efficient versions.
