Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/714108
20 September 2016 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Earlier this year, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) released the results of a survey that asked its members which residential landscape design elements would be most popular in 2016. Lighting, a top performer in 2015, remained among the most popular outdoor design elements for this year — along with fire pits, fireplaces and wireless Internet connectivity. In fact, more than 65 percent of the landscape architects surveyed said that they expected customers to request lighting as a part of their landscape plan. Why has landscape lighting become so popular? More people are investing in their homes, spending a significant amount of time and money enhancing their homes' curb appeal. When it's done right, landscape lighting can spotlight a home's best archi- tectural features and draw attention to favorite plantings and trees. Lighting can also improve a home's safety and security by illuminating formerly dark areas and making it easier to traverse stairs and outdoor paths. "More people are taking an interest in their homes and living in them longer," said Brian Peace, district sales manager for Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting in Simi Valley, Calif. "They want to upgrade their house rather than move to a different one. And more of the people investing in landscape lighting are living in your typical, average homes. It's not just for people who live in higher-end homes or mansions." Landscaping + lighting = profits With demand for residential landscape lighting increasing, it only makes sense that more landscape and irrigation contractors are adding it to their service menus. Statistics show that 80 to 90 percent of Peace's customers are landscapers first and foremost who install lighting as an additional service. "It makes perfect sense for landscape or irrigation contractors to get into the lighting business," Peace added. "They're already on the jobsite; they have an established clientele. It's a relatively easy way to make more money from a single job. If you're digging a trench to put in sprinkler pipe, you can also lay lighting wire in the ground in just a few additional seconds. It's so simple to learn, and it doesn't require any additional licenses. Because it's low-voltage, it's safe as well." Along with the ability to earn additional income, offering A Brilliant Idea Landscape lighting demand continues to grow, offering contractors an additional revenue source