Color Technology in Outdoor Landscape Lighting
With each new season, technology more fully integrates into our daily life. Our phones are replacing laptops, televisions and cameras to provide us with a multifunctional tool for work, learning and entertainment. Our cars are increasingly sophisticated to provide us with increased efficiency, safety, performance and comfort with the integration of new technology.
Similarly, outdoor landscape lighting is increasingly becoming more functional and customizable with the advent of led and wifi technology. When landscape lighting was in its infancy, the technology consisted of plug-in incandescent bulbs that were limited in their color, light output and life expectancy. Bulbs were fragile and typically lasted 5,000 hours at best. Light output was sufficient but came at the cost of higher wattages and therefore higher electrical costs. With the advent of LED technology plug-in bulbs became less fragile and able to take the typical abuse in an outdoor environment. Bulbs began to be rated for 35,000 hours and now we are seeing bulbs rated for 50,000 hours, a ten-fold increase in life span.
Perhaps the best benefit to LED is that high light outputs now requires very low wattages, a fraction of what was required with incandescent bulbs. This reduces electrical costs significantly for the average consumer. The next evolution of LED bulb technology has just arrived. This season we are integrating Chameleon LED bulbs that are customizable in terms of color temperature and hue via a smartphone app. In the recent past, we were limited to color specific LED bulbs. While most clients prefer warm white tones to enhance the outdoor spaces, there are times when vibrant colors are desired to celebrate a birthday or holiday. Color specific bulbs were purchased and temporarily installed in each light fixture to create this customized lighting effect.
Current LED technology is now allowing individual bulb color to be changed without the need to physically remove the bulb. A simple wifi connection from a smart phone will allow the user to create infinite color options with the touch of a button.
Even in cases where vibrant colors are not desired, the subtle customization of warm versus cooler tones allow the lighting designer to accentuate the silver green color of an evergreen tree with one color while enhancing the warm tones of brownstone with another color. The ability to customize each fixture to create a desired lighting effect is now a possibility and brings the outdoor lighting composition to another level.
In addition, two or more lighting fixtures can be grouped together to create unique lighting patterns simply and efficiently. Like other LED bulbs the Chameleon bulbs do not degrade efficiency or life span. This provides a wonderful way to upgrade an aging lighting system by replacing old technology with customizable and efficient technology simply by swapping out the old bulbs for new bulbs.
(Photo of multiple colored lights in landscape)
How the new Lighting Technology Works
Once the Chameleon bulbs are integrated into the outdoor lighting fixtures, simply download the Brilliance Smart app onto your mobile device, connect 1 or a series of Chameleon bulbs via wifi to the app and start the party!
(Photo showing smart phone app)
By changing the lights to a cobalt blue, for example, we create a club-like atmosphere on the back terrace that literally changes the mood of the event. A child’s birthday party may have us create a lighting effect that mirrors the child’s favorite colors. Holidays are even more festive when the outdoor lights reflect the colors of that holiday. The options are infinite and once the party is over, the lights can easily return to their original white color via settings within the smartphone app.
Bringing the resort feel to backyard spaces
By integrating the Chameleon bulbs into the outdoor landscape, homeowners and businesses can integrate technology typically seen featured in high-end resorts and clubs straight to their own backyard space. The best part is that this technology does not come with the high-end resort price tag. Chameleon bulb technology is yet another way to elevate the art of light within your landscape.
To experience the Chameleon lighting technology in your backyard, contact Boston Lightscaping for an on site demo.
