Low Voltage Lighting

The conservation of energy has become a huge part of life in many parts of the world, due to harmful emissions that are changing our environment, economic crisis, and a variety of other factors. Due to these new aspects of life, many lighting companies have begun releasing low voltage lighting, which uses less energy and can often lend a more intimate air to a room than an overpoweringly bright light.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the benefits low voltage lighting carries over their high-voltage counterparts, as well as some of the ways you can employ low voltage lighting without sacrificing the overall brightness of your home.

If your home has high ceilings, low voltage lighting can be employed in some of the smaller rooms to make them appear significantly larger. Having light fixtures, say, halfway up the wall or at shoulder height can make the ceiling darker, and therefore seem higher up.

Rooms with lots of natural light can employ low voltage lighting near the windows to mimic this light during the night, giving the room a sort of all natural, relaxing feeling. While many people assume that it is harder to read with low voltage lights, or that it might be bad for your eyes, years of studies have shown that low light is in no way a strain on or harmful to the eyes, and that low light rather than bright light is more relaxing and therefore more conducive to activities like studying or homework.

Low voltage lighting tends to produce a very soft, yellow light over the oppressive white of many bulbs, which can create headaches or even cause problems in those with epilepsy.

Supermarkets and gas stations employ very bright lighting because it is uncomfortable, in an effort to get you in and out as quickly as possible, whereas comfortable restaurants and cafes will tend to use low voltage lighting whenever possible to give the rooms a homier, relaxed feeling.

The obvious benefit of low voltage lighting, of course, is the energy you’ll save. Many low voltage light bulbs use roughly half the energy of non-energy saving bulbs, and are better for the environment, not to mention lasting longer as well as saving you money on electrical bills.

There are basically no reasons to keep high voltage bulbs around the house, as they offer virtually no benefits over their low voltage counterparts.

You will find many sources of low voltage lighting on this page.