The next time you call your local residential electrician to come fix any electrical problems you have in your home, you may want to ask him or her about outdoor lighting. According to the American Lighting Association, exterior lighting can not only enhance the beauty of a home,  it can also provide safety and security. Here are some things to keep in mind if you're considering installing outdoor lighting.

Call a professional

Electrical work can be tricky and dangerous. Don't embark on a lighting project without the help of a professional. Ask a qualified electrician to do an assessment of your home at night. An expert will be able to pinpoint the darkest spots around your home and explain how you should light them.

Focus on the front door

One place you'll want to install outdoor lighting is your front door. Not only will this help you and your family at night, it will also allow you to clearly see anyone who rings your bell in the evening.

Illuminate your walkway

Consider illuminating the path leading up to the door to protect your guests (or family) from tripping as they walk to and from your home in the evening.

Get a timer

Talk to your electrician about having a timer installed to control your outdoor lights. This will ensure that if you come home late from work, your lights will be on and waiting for you. You can also use a timer to turn the lights on and off to give the impression of an occupied home when you’re away on vacation.

Consider lights in the pool

If you own a pool, talk to an electrician about installing lights inside it. This will help keep your loved ones safe during nighttime swims. Also, if you have a fountain, you may want to illuminate it as well to better show it off during the evening.

Light up your deck

Lighting your deck or porch will extend the hours you can spend there and create another option for entertaining guests.

Since the advent of the incandescent (and even before), quality of light has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Regrettably, that quality has mostly been unfortunate. When incandescent lights were the only choice, the early 20th century population complained about the glare and the possible dangers of electricity.

Case in point: on an episode of Downton Abbey (Masterpiece’s smash hit about an elite family living on an estate in the early 1900’s), the prim and hilarious Dowager Countess laments the new electric lamps:

“Such a glare! I couldn’t have electricity in the house – I wouldn’t sleep a wink. All those vapors seeping about. Feels as if  I were on stage at the Gaiety.”     

When the day comes for you to retire from work, you might find yourself with a lot more free time and a lot less money. Hopefully, you've planned your savings so you don't have to live your golden years on a shoestring budget, but in any scenario, it’s wise to rein in your spending once you're no longer receiving a regular paycheck. Read on for some advice on how to cut back on your energy usage after you retire and keep your monthly bills under control.

Combat Rising Utility Costs

Unfortunately, most people's energy bills actually go up after they retire. What's the difference? Now that you're home all day, you're paying to heat and cool the house and to power electronic devices during the hours you used to spend at the workplace. Essentially, you lost a little-recognized fringe benefit, since your employer used to pick up the tab for electricity and climate control eight hours a day.

To compound the issue, many retirees are recent empty-nesters as well. With the kids out of the house, you probably experienced a sharp downturn in your utility bills. Now, you'll be all the more likely to notice when they spike back up once you stop going to work.

You Have the Power to Save

You don't have to give in to sky-high utility bills, however. Check out these suggestions on how to save:

For a more thorough analysis of your individual circumstances, don't hesitate to contact an expert to conduct an energy audit on your house. You could see significant savings and enjoy your retirement all the more.