LC/DBM provides landscape contractors with Educational, Imaginative and Practical information about their business, their employees, their machines and their projects.
Issue link: https://landscapecontractor.epubxp.com/i/120950
Stony Creek Landscaping illuminated this newly hardscaped outdoor living space in Thomasville, Georgia, by installing Copper Moon bell lighting on the walls, a floodlight on the mantle, and two brass CM.900 lights in the floor of the 700-gallon, 15x10-ft. pond. s part of the LC/DBM Lighting Issue, we sat down with Paul R. Gosselin, CLVLT, the President of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) for his insights into the growing outdoor lighting marketplace. How would you characterize the current mood of your membership toward the landscape lighting marketplace? Members of the AOLP are very optimistic about landscape lighting; it consistently scores top 10 in outdoor living trends. What are the major challenges facing your members in the current marketplace? The economy is a huge challenge, of course. Also, educating the public about quality outdoor lighting products, in contrast to what home improvement stores sell. Lastly, we are up against the stigma of low-voltage outdoor lighting, due to improper installation. What lighting technology advancement is your organization most excited about? Why? LED products, their advancement in outdoor products has given outdoor lighting professionals more tools to create fantastic landscape lighting designs. The installation of LED products is also much easier, since the electrical loads are less, and operating voltages are more forgiving. Is Dark Sky (or other light-limiting trends) impacting your membership in any appreciable way? In some ways the Dark Sky movement may hinder a designer���s overall concept, but it also allows our members to offer Dark Sky friendly designs, which can be a benefit. Is the move by the electricians unions to make low-voltage lighting their domain impacting your membership? What is your organization���s position on this issue? In some parts of the country this is a big issue, while in others it���s not. The AOLP doesn���t have a problem with a licensing requirement to perform low-voltage outdoor lighting. However, the testing should cover the subject, as of now there is not a single question that accounts for low-voltage landscape lighting. 26 LC DBM If a landscape contractor wanted to add outdooring lighting to their list of services, what would you recommend? Begin with an outdoor lighting seminar, do some research to learn the principles of lighting design, and then get acquainted with the products. I also recommend joining the AOLP, as it is a great resource. Members have the opportunity to talk with one another, as well as distributors and manufacturers. They can also learn different techniques and ways of designing and installing. What are the benefits for a landscape lighting contractor interested in joining your organization? Members are privy to networking opportunities that wouldn't exist otherwise. The certification courses, CLVLT (certified low voltage lighting technician) and COLD (certified outdoor lighting designer) are another great benefit. Those that have one or both of these certifications tend to perform better work, and reap a higher profit. The annual conference is something members enjoy, the exhibits display the latest products by the best manufacturers in the country, and the seminars are top-notch. We also have an awards program, which shows off the work of our members and gives them some wonderful PR. The Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) was originally established in 2001 as the Low Voltage Lighting Institute of the Americas (LVLIA). The mission of AOLP is to establish standards, educate industry professionals and increase awareness of the outdoor lighting industry. AOLP is a trade association whose membership consists of contractors, manufacturers, lighting designers, landscape architects and distributors from all over the U.S. and Canada. The AOLP currently has 175 members. The main goal of AOLP is to improve the knowledge and abilities of the professionals within the architectural and landscape lighting industry. The Association also provides accreditation programs to become a certified technician or certified landscape lighting designer. LC DBM A A Conversation With AOLP President Paul R. Gosselin By Michelle Medaris, LCDBM