National Outdoor Lighting Month (NOLM) is a dedicated annual observance that highlights the importance of outdoor lighting, landscape lighting, and promotes responsible and efficient outdoor lighting practices.
This October month-long celebration aims to raise awareness about the significance of outdoor lighting, garden lighting, low voltage lighting, its impact on the environment, safety, and our quality of life. Let’s take a look into the essence of NOLM, exploring its objectives, significance, and the key reasons why it is important.
The Purpose Of National Outdoor Lighting Month
Promoting Safety and Security: One of the primary objectives of NOLM is to emphasize the critical role outdoor lighting plays in ensuring the safety and security of homes, businesses, and public spaces. Adequate and well-planned outdoor lighting helps prevent accidents, deters criminal activity, and enhances overall personal safety.
Environmental Awareness: NOLM also seeks to address the environmental implications of outdoor lighting. The excessive use of energy and light pollution can harm ecosystems, disrupt wildlife, and impact human health. By raising awareness about sustainable lighting practices, NOLM encourages responsible choices that reduce energy consumption and minimize light pollution.
Enhancing Quality of Life: Effective deck and patio lighting doesn't just serve practical purposes; it can also significantly contribute to an improved quality of life. Well-lit outdoor spaces can foster a sense of community, promote social interactions, and create visually appealing environments for residents and visitors.
Educational Outreach: National Outdoor Lighting Month serves as a platform for educational outreach, targeting individuals, communities, businesses, and policymakers. It provides information, resources, and best practices for achieving energy-efficient, safe, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor lighting.
The Importance Of National Outdoor Lighting Month
An essential aspect of NOLM is its focus on energy efficiency. As the world faces increasing concerns about energy consumption and its impact on climate change, responsible outdoor lighting practices can make a significant difference. By advocating for the use of energy-efficient lighting technologies, such as LED lights, NOLM encourages reduced energy consumption and lower electricity bills for homeowners and businesses.
Adequate outdoor lighting is essential for safety. Poorly lit areas can be havens for criminal activity, posing risks to both property and personal safety. NOLM stresses the importance of well-planned outdoor lighting to deter criminal behavior and make public spaces safer for everyone.
National Outdoor Lighting Month recognizes that outdoor lighting goes beyond mere functionality. It plays a role in creating inviting and vibrant public spaces. By promoting community engagement, NOLM encourages the design of well-lit outdoor areas that foster a sense of belonging and encourage people to spend time outdoors, ultimately improving the overall quality of life in communities.
Outdoor lighting can also preserve and enhance the historical and architectural heritage of a home or business. NOLM emphasizes the importance of considering aesthetics when planning outdoor lighting, allowing for the illumination of landmarks, historic buildings, and public art in ways that enhance their beauty and cultural significance.
NOLM recognizes the economic benefits of responsible outdoor lighting. Efficient lighting practices can lead to cost savings for businesses, municipalities, and homeowners through reduced energy bills and maintenance costs. Additionally, well-lit commercial areas can attract more customers, leading to increased revenue for businesses.
NOLM also encourages the development of outdoor lighting regulations and policies at the local, state, and national levels. These regulations can help ensure that outdoor lighting is designed and implemented in a way that benefits the community, minimizes negative impacts, and conserves energy.
In addition to practical considerations, NOLM highlights the cultural and recreational benefits of outdoor lighting. Festivals, celebrations, and artistic displays often rely on outdoor lighting to create a magical atmosphere and offer unique recreational experiences.
The importance of NOLM also lies in its educational outreach efforts. By providing information and resources to the public, businesses, and government officials, NOLM helps people make informed choices about outdoor lighting, fostering a culture of responsible and sustainable lighting practices.
Spread The Good Word About NOLM
National Outdoor Lighting Month serves as a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of outdoor lighting in our lives. Its objectives encompass safety, energy efficiency, environmental conservation, community engagement, aesthetics, economic benefits, public health, and educational outreach. By emphasizing these aspects, NOLM strives to create a world where outdoor lighting is both functional and sustainable, enhancing our quality of life while preserving the environment for future generations.
Take a look at this coastal home before and after the addition of outdoor lighting:
Before professional outdoor lighting:
After professional outdoor lighting:
In a rapidly changing world with increasing concerns about energy consumption, environmental sustainability, and community well-being, the observance of National Outdoor Lighting Month takes on particular importance.
It encourages individuals, communities, businesses, and policymakers to come together to address these pressing issues and make informed decisions regarding outdoor lighting. In doing so, NOLM sheds light on a path towards a brighter, more sustainable, and safer future for all.
Find Out More By Speaking With Our Colt-Certified Outdoor Lighting Design, Installation And Maintenance Teams
We invite you to call us at 727-513-3420 for more insight and information.
Should you require service or maintenance on your outdoor lighting system – even if we did not perform the original installation – it would be our pleasure to assist you. Just click here to connect with our team.
Robert van der Putten, owner Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Clearwater & Tampa Bay.
