Have you ever wondered what can happen to landscape lighting if it gets hit by lightning? The short answer is, “Nothing good.”

On occasion, one of our customers will call and tell us that their property was hit by lightning. One lightning bolt alone can discharge up to one billion volts of electrical energy. To put this in practical terms, this is enough to power a 100-watt lightbulb for three months. That is why a lightning strike can light up the sky, even during the middle of the day.

What happens when lightning strikes?

This electrical discharge is not only powerful, it also generates a lot of heat. In fact, a lightning bolt can heat up the surrounding air by up to 30,000 degrees Celsius (54,000 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature is roughly five times hotter than the surface of the sun.

Besides striking a tree or house, lightning can also hit the ground. When it does, it may discharge into your landscape lighting system. Once that happens the damage begins. Current from lightning can travel through the wires and often will destroy the fixtures. Lightning can be a strange thing. Some fixtures can be burned badly and destroyed yet others in the system can be untouched.

Sometimes a lightning strike will not only destroy the fixtures above the ground but also damage the wire in the ground. If your outdoor lighting system was hit by lightning, you should assume that the wire has been compromised and will need to be replaced. In most cases, if your landscape lights were impacted by lightning, you should expect to replace them.

Besides damaging the fixtures, lightning can also impact your transformer. Sometimes the damage is minor, and the transformer only needs to have the circuit breaker reset. At other times the transformer can be severely damaged. This picture shows the damage done to a low voltage transformer after the system was struck by lightning. You can see that there is no repair to this transformer.

Is there something that can be done to protect your outdoor lighting system?

Some inline fuses may help, but if the surge is quite powerful it probably won’t make much difference. Enjoy your outdoor lights but know that lightning can strike at any time. Damage to your outdoor lights can be significant. When that happens, you’ll need to report it to the insurance company.

Luminocity can help bring the light back on after a storm. If your outdoor lighting isn’t working after one of our Indiana electrical storms, give us a call at 317-537-8055 . We’ll make the necessary repairs and replacement to give your home the illumination it deserves!

As the calendar begins to point to spring (we can’t vouch for the thermometer), it’s time to begin planning outdoor landscape upgrades. That 20-year-old juniper bush may still be evergreen, but it’s also starting to get reedy and disheveled, despite your attempts to prune it. When you introduce plants that add visual texture into your landscape, you create a scene that’s interesting and eye-pleasing. Want to go a step further? Luminocity inspired lighting can help you integrate your outdoor landscape into a lighting design destined to create its own illuminated artwork.

Let’s talk about some good foliage to consider when it’s time to get your hands in the dirt this spring.

It’s about the texture

When you’re planning your trip to the garden center, consider the texture of the plants you’re going to see. Plants typically come in three main textures: fine, coarse, and medium. Fine textured plants are the ones with thin, lightweight foliage. They might be ornamental grass plants, or they may have thin stems and fluffy leaves that create an interesting balance. Coarse textured plants are the ones with the large leaves or blossoms. They tend to grab your attention when you scan your yard. Medium textured plants fall somewhere in between. They aren’t overly large, but they’re not little and delicate either.

As a rule of thumb, you want to plan for 1/3 fine textures and 2/3 coarse and medium textures. But if you’re drawn to the fine textures, by all means, populate your landscape with them. It’s your home, after all.

Fine textured plants

The fun part about fine textured plants is that they give your garden or landscape a casual, fun feel. Their delicate silhouettes complement the bigger foliage and blossoms that threaten to steal the show. By adding these airier textures, you’ll get a sense of natural balance in your garden:

• Tall verbena
• Pretty sedge
• Fennel
• Baby’s breath

Coarse textured plants

Let’s talk about shadows. Coarse textured plants tend to create broad shadows, rather than the wispy shadows created by their fine textured counterparts. Think about painting with a broad brush – that’s what you’re doing with coarse textured plants. Many people think of tropical settings when they see coarse textured plants, thanks to their lush, oversized foliage and brilliant green hues:

• Hostas – especially big-leaf hostas
• Rhubarb
• Dutchman’s pipe
• Rhododendrons

Medium textured plants

Somewhere between fine and coarse, medium textured plants work to link the different sizes and textures in your landscape. They can also add elements of color and whimsy to the outdoor setting:

• Impatiens
• Daisies
• Viburnum
• Camellias

Bringing in the light

Outdoor lighting adds additional elements of depth and value to your landscape. Sure, a few solar-powered lights from the hardware store can illuminate the garden and cast shadows. But an experienced outdoor lighting professional can design outdoor lighting that creates its own artwork among the plants you so carefully selected. Using a combination of uplighting and downlighting, the lighting professionals at Luminocity can intentionally draw the eye to various areas in your landscape design and create depth and highlights, helping your home stand out during the day and at night as well.

Are you ready to update your outdoors this spring? Finish your landscape revival with outdoor lighting from Luminocity. Call us at 317-537-8055 for a quote or reach out to us here to start a conversation.

Is professional outdoor lighting worth the money you spend? The answer is a resounding “yes.” Outdoor lighting not only enhances your home’s curb appeal and value, it can also offer extra security, shining light into the shadows around your home. But your return on investment can vary, depending on how the work is done and who’s doing it. A simple outdoor lighting design may seem like a DIY job, but not every homeowner is up to the task of choosing the right fixtures and strategically placing them around the property. Read on to find out why the experts at Luminocity inspired outdoor lighting are worth every penny you’ll spend.

A professional understands how light works

This sounds intuitive, right? You want light, you flip a switch. How hard is it? It turns out that light is an important part of the physics lessons you may or may not have taken in high school. You can’t touch light. You can’t smell it or hold it. But you can see what it reveals. Done well, light can be configured to reveal your home’s best features while creating an aesthetically pleasing work of art. Light placement must consider both the focus of the light and the way the light plays on the home’s features. Light illuminates the home, but it also can create more shadows. An expert understands how to incorporate the light and shadows into the lighting plan by using specific fixtures, placement and a combination of uplighting and downlighting for maximum impact.

A professional understands electricity

You wouldn’t hire an unlicensed electrician to install your indoor lights, so why should your outdoor lighting be any different? Luminocity Founder Karl Lundberg and his team are the best in the industry thanks to their hands-on experience and their investment in education, training, and lighting-related certification. In fact, Luminocity has two of only five Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technicians (CLVLT) in Indiana and is a member of the prestigious Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP). Homeowners can rest assured that their outdoor lighting has been professionally installed and meets all applicable lighting codes.

A professional has access to an extensive network

The right fixtures are essential to a breathtaking lighting effect. Choosing the right light fixtures and designing an outdoor lighting system can be overwhelming. Do you want traditional fixtures? LED bulbs? Different sizes? Our local big box stores typically stock lower end fixtures that are made of aluminum, which may need to be replaced often. They may only offer lower quality fixtures, switches, and timers. Professional outdoor lighting companies have access to durable fixtures that pay you back in longevity and beauty. Karl’s extensive professional network includes lighting experts around the country who can offer advice and leads on specific equipment.

A professional handles maintenance

The outdoor elements can leave a mark on any lighting design. Over time, fixtures can move, and wires may emerge from the ground. Trees and shrubberies grow each year, creating new shadows and changing the original design. Professional companies like Luminocity often offer a maintenance plan to restore lighting systems to their first-day perfection. Technicians will take over the chore of straightening path lighting and burying exposed wires. We’ll inspect and clean each fixture and replace old bulbs with fresh ones. There’s no need to get your hands dirty when you’re working with a professional outdoor lighting company like Luminocity.

Your home deserves the best in the outdoor lighting business. If you’re ready to talk about outdoor lighting solutions, turn to the experts at Luminocity inspired outdoor living. Call us at 317-537-8055 or reach out online now to start a conversation.

A new year can inspire fresh changes in your life. While you may be focusing adding more exercise into your weekly routine or changing your work habits, have you thought about what you can do for your home? After all, your home is a reflection of you. By incorporating a few timely updates, you can give your home a new appearance that is both refreshing and welcoming. Read on for some ideas from your friends at Luminocity.

Change the color

A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to update your home and transform its appearance. Faded hues can make even the most timeless home design look outdated. Is it time to give you home a full makeover? Or could it benefit from a few new pops of color, like a rich red or deep blue front door? Your front door is often the first thing visitors encounter when they come to your home. It’s OK to be daring – if you decide you don’t love the color choice, it’s easy to change it. Want to go a bit further? Try adding an accent color to your home’s shutters, trim or exterior accents for a refreshing change.

Clean it up

Indiana’s weather can be rough on your home’s exterior. Dirt, mold and other debris can build up gradually, but once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. Consider renting a power washer to reveal your home’s original beauty. Of course, you always want to do your due diligence to make sure power washing is compatible with your home’s exterior. For instance, vinyl siding can usually handle the pressure, but old mortar on an historic home should be left alone. You also want to avoid hitting your outdoor lighting fixtures with a power washer. Fortunately, Luminocity can give your fixtures a thorough cleaning during a scheduled maintenance visit.

Update your plants and foliage

The late winter months are a great time to start thinking about your spring planting. Landscape designs don’t always age well. Plants can become overgrown or may fail due to poor location choices or soil conditions. You want an outdoor landscape that is lush and welcoming. Consider updating your mulch color and adding more floral plants and lush greenery to your home’s entryway. Talk to your local nursery about which shade trees can provide an extra layer of privacy and beauty around your home.

Remember to accessorize

When was the last time you replaced your welcome mat? If your humble doormat isn’t being very welcoming, it’s time for an update. Consider something that’s durable as well as pretty – you want visitors to leave the mud and grime outdoors. Looking for other colorful outdoor options? Purchase new cushions and pillows for your outdoor seating, or have fun with outdoor wall décor.

Let there be lighting updates

Professional outdoor lighting can be an impressive addition to your home’s exterior. The right lighting design will artfully highlight your home’s best features, drawing the eye to various focal points and enhancing your home’s quality and beauty. When you partner with Luminocity, you are working with a team of trained designers and lighting professionals who understand the science of outdoor lighting. We’ll use the optimal combination of fixtures and lighting technology to wrap your home in splendor. Do you already have a lighting system in place? The experts at Luminocity can add updates with new, focused fixtures and a thorough cleaning and inspection.

Elegant outdoor lighting adds beauty and security to the finest homes. If you’re ready to learn more about outdoor lighting, reach out to Luminocity at 317-537-8055 or schedule a consultation online now.