LED lighting: towards a brighter, greener future!

How would you like a way to effectively light your landscape, save on energy bills, and not have to change a lamp (bulb) for over 15 years? Sound far-fetched? To some, maybe. But not to those who have seen firsthand what these new lighting tools can do.

Quality LED-based landscape lighting fixtures are gaining acceptance among designers, installers and homeowners. We are starting to offer them now.

The challenge for landscape lighting manufacturers has been how to produce the right warm white quality of light, while also dissipating excess heat and keeping out the weather. We've discovered a Southern California manufacturer called DG Lights, whose fixtures are built solid as bricks with great heat sink capacity.































The first and second photos show the Calzado from DG Lights, first at at night and then during the day.
















The third photo (above) shows two DG Lights brand Phoenix LED spot lights mounted part way up the trunk of a Washingtonia fan palm.

The last photo (below) shows two DG Lights Pasos mounted on a stucco wall adjacent to a deck.

Joy and Sadness

A lot has happened in the past six months.

First, my oldest son got married on June 30, amid the redwoods at Sean's mom's home in the hills above Los Gatos.

Lindsay works in planning and land use policy and Sean works as a risk analyst for a company that helps local governments and non profits to self-insure.

You can see more pictures from the rehearsal dinner (including some bocce ball fun) and the wedding here.

(Photo courtesy of Rene Smoller)

Second, on a sadder note, a friend passed away after a hard fought bout with cancer.

Bill Locklin, known by most as the "father of low voltage outdoor lighting" and founder of Nightscaping passed on December 17.

Bill was a friend, a mentor and to many, both in business and in life. His "hobby out of control" grew into a major industry reaching worldwide... and his influence and inspiration live on.

A licensed electrical contractor to the end, Bill was good at listening to us who installed his products in the field, soliciting our advice, and improving products and materials for us to work with.

You can read comments from Bill's many friends and associates here.




We miss you Bill.

(Photo courtesy of Kevin Islander)