Glossary of Outdoor Lighting terminology
Accent Lighting: Focused lighting used to highlight specific architectural features or landscape elements.
Ambient Lighting: General lighting that illuminates an outdoor area with a soft glow, enhancing visibility and safety.
Beam Angle: The angle at which light is distributed or spread from the light source. Examples include a 12 to 15 degree beam angle to feature a porch column and a 60 degree beam angle to illuminate a small crepe myrtle tree.
Bollard Light: A type of outdoor lighting fixture mounted on a short, sturdy post. Designed to illuminate walkways, pathways, and landscapes for both safety and aesthetic purposes, bollard lights are commonly used in commercial and residential areas to provide ground-level lighting without the glare of overhead lights. Often they will be more artistic in design than more basic path lights and/or may utilize designs to cast shadow designs on the ground.
Compliments: these are what you’ll receive from friends and neighbors after Loudoun Lighting designs and installs your custom outdoor illumination.
CRI (Color Rendering Index): A measure of how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects compared to natural light.
Dimmer: A device that adjusts the brightness of light fixtures.
Downlighting: A technique where light is directed downward to simulate natural light like moonlight. See also “Moonlighting”.
Dusk-to-Dawn: Lighting designed to operate automatically from sunset to sunrise.
Efficacy: See Luminous Efficacy.
Fixture: The assembly that houses the lamp and can include elements such as a shroud or lens.
Floodlights: Broad-beamed, high-intensity lights used to illuminate large areas.
FOMO: the intense feeling your friends and neighbors will have after Loudoun Lighting installs your custom outdoor illumination.
Glare: Bright, often harsh light that can cause discomfort or reduce visibility.
Grade: The quality and durability classification of outdoor lighting fixtures.
Grazing: A lighting technique where light is positioned close to the surface of an architectural feature or landscape element, creating shadows that highlight textures and details. Grazing is especially effective on textured surfaces like stone walls or tree bark, accentuating the depth and character of the surface.
Halogen Bulbs: A type of incandescent bulb that uses halogen gas to increase light output and efficiency relative to traditional incandescent bulbs but far less efficient and shorter lifespan than today’s LED lamps.
Hardscape Lighting: Lighting that is integrated into architectural structures like walls, steps, and patios.
IP Rating (Ingress Protection): A two-digit system that rates the degree of protection an electrical enclosure provides against solids and liquids. Consumer-grade fixtures typically do not carry high IP ratings. Imagine pressuring washing your deck steps and having to avoid the lights.
Kelvin Temperature: A numerical measurement of the color temperature of light, indicating how warm or cool the light appears measured in degrees Kelvin (K). The scale ranges from warm, lower Kelvin values (around 2000K to 3000K), producing a yellowish light reminiscent of candlelight or sunset, to cool, higher Kelvin values (above 5000K), emitting a bluish-white light similar to daylight. Kelvin temperature affects the mood, functionality, and aesthetic appeal of a space. Warm lights create cozy, inviting atmospheres, while cool lights are energizing and improve visibility. Understanding Kelvin temperature is crucial for selecting the right lighting to achieve desired effects in landscape and architectural lighting designs.
Landscape Architect: A professional who designs outdoor spaces, often working with landscape lighting.
Landscape Lighting: Outdoor lighting that enhances and secures the aesthetic and functional features of an area.
LED (Light Emitting Diode): A highly efficient, long-lasting source of light that uses diodes to produce light.
Light Pollution: Excessive or misdirected outdoor lighting that can have negative effects on the environment.
Line Voltage: The standard voltage (usually 120v or 240v) supplied to households and commercial buildings.
Low Voltage: Reduced voltage (typically 12v) used for safer, energy-efficient landscape lighting.
Lumens: A measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Luminous Efficacy: The ratio of luminous flux (in lumens) emitted by a light source to the power (in watts) consumed.
Moonlighting: A landscape lighting technique that mimics the natural glow of moonlight by positioning lights high in trees or on structures, directing light downward through branches or leaves. This creates soft, dappled light patterns on the ground, offering subtle illumination that enhances the ambiance of outdoor spaces without harsh brightness. Moonlighting is often used to create a serene, natural nighttime environment. See also: “Downlighting”.
Motion Sensor: A device that detects movement and turns lights on or off accordingly.
Mounting Hardware: Brackets, stakes, or other accessories used to install lighting fixtures.
Omnidirectional Light: Lighting that distributes light evenly in all directions.
Outdoor Lighting: General term for any lighting used in outdoor spaces and fixtures carry specific ratings indicating their suitability for outdoor use to withstand the elements etc. May include porch lamps, post lamps, outdoor chandeliers, hanging lights, etc.
Path Lights: Fixtures designed to illuminate walkways and pathways for safety and aesthetics.
Pathway Lighting: See Path Lights.
Pendant Light: In outdoor lighting, a fixture that hangs from a fixed point such as the ceiling, a branch, pergola, etc and is typically used for task lighting over tables/counters, a bar, or grill.
Photocell: A sensor that turns lights on at dusk and off at dawn based on light levels.
Photometrics: The study and measurement of light as it is perceived by the human eye. In landscape lighting, photometric data, including light output, distribution, and color properties, is used to plan and design lighting installations that meet specific aesthetic and functional requirements. This ensures optimal visibility, safety, and ambiance in illuminated outdoor spaces.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue): Refers to LED lighting capable of changing colors for dynamic lighting effects. This is usually effected through a remote control or mobile phone app.
Sconce: A wall-mounted light fixture used for ambient or accent lighting.
Smiling: the facial expression associated with the happiness you’ll feel after Loudoun Lighting installs your custom illumination.
Solar Lighting: Lighting fixtures powered by solar panels, converting sunlight into electricity.
Spotlights: Focused lights used to highlight specific features such as trees, sculptures, or architectural details.
Step Lights: Small fixtures installed in or around steps for safety and aesthetics.
Task Lighting: Lighting designed for specific tasks such as cooking, preparing drinks or reading. Common examples include lighting over an outdoor grilling station, bar or patio table.
Timer: A device used to automatically turn lights on and off at set times.
Transformer: A device that converts standard line voltage (120v) to low voltage (12v) for landscape lighting systems.
Underwater Lighting: Fixtures designed to be submerged, often used in fountains or pools.
Uplighting: A technique of placing lighting fixtures on the ground to illuminate objects or surfaces from below.
Voltage: The measure of electrical potential. Landscape lighting typically uses low voltage (12 volts) for safety and efficiency and may be as high as 15 volts or even higher in some applications.
Wall Wash: A lighting technique that evenly illuminates a wall or facade.
Warm White: Light with a warm, yellowish hue, typically around 2700K to 3000K on the Kelvin scale.
Wattage: A measure of electrical power expressed in watts.
Zoning: The practice of grouping lights into separate circuits or areas for independent control.