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AOLP and Me

Aug 7, 2023

When we take on new outdoor lighting installations, our number one priority is the satisfaction of our client. However, we aren’t just focused on leaving you with a smile on your face. We want you to feel confident that you are making the right choice at every stage of the process. We want you to know, as soon as you sign a contract with us, that you are getting informed and professional expertise in return. 

But how does one verify their skill and knowledge for a client? It does little good for a salesman to tell you how great their business is. That’s why we at Carolina Outdoor Lighting rely on nationally recognized groups with clear industry standards and a wealth of resources to set the standard for us. We have connected to various different institutions and networks, such as the International Dark Sky Association(IDA), the International Landscape Lighting Institute(ILLI), and – the organization we’d like to highlight today – the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP). We think these relationships are a critical element of maintaining our position as the premium provider of outdoor lighting systems.

 

Dedication is our Badge

The Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) is truly a fantastic resource both for lighting designers as well as customers looking to make an investment in outdoor lighting. The AOLP was established over twenty years ago, and in that time they have built a monumental organization that acts as the cornerstone for lighting professionals across the nation – and Canada. The AOLP compiles all the most current understandings of lighting methods, installation standards, and hardware specifications to create a strict standard of quality. They have created a network of experts that provide reports and reviews on just about every aspect of outdoor lighting. In addition to a plethora of digital resources they offer to lighting professionals that meet their standards, the AOLP also hosts annual conferences that allow members of the industry to share information, techniques, and the new burgeoning ideas in the lighting world. 

More than anything, however, the AOLP is designed to protect the consumer. When you have been active in the outdoor, low-voltage, lighting field enough you will inevitably see what we and AOLP have seen: customers that have been taken advantage of by big-box stores, corner-cutting-contractors, or simple ignorance. A lighting designer without the knowledge and standards of the AOLP behind them may end up using cheaper connections, less durable fixtures, or improper techniques without ever knowing a more reliable option is out there. These faults in design or implementation will undoubtable compound over time and end up with the consumer spending more money, effort, and time trying to keep up with failing parts. We don’t want that, you don’t want that, and neither does the AOLP. 

That is why having these industry networks is so important. The AOLP provides us at Carolina Outdoor Lighting direct access to all we need to continually provide the best service that we can even as the methodology of lighting design advances. They verify the money you invest in your home is well spent. 

 

Improvement is our Creed

The wonderful thing about having such a massive resource at our disposal is that there is always more to learn, and we are constantly seeking improvement. Our designer is currently engaged in programs to expand their certifications, and frequently attends these national industry conferences. We already maintain strict standards with our distributor partners and use methods and materials that are as secure for the consumer as we can offer…but next month a new company might design a new type of connector that is even better. A fall conference might debut a new method of distributing light through a tree that makes the foliage glow like never before. Maintaining our relationships with the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals, the International Dark Sky Association, and the International Landscape Lighting Institute, is how we make sure we are always honest when we say: Carolina Outdoor Lighting can offer you premium outdoor lighting experiences at an efficient cost.