By Jenny Yu.  

The Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals provides its members with opportunities for education, networking and collaboration. 

Established in 2001, the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) is a trade association dedicated to advancing the art and business of outdoor lighting. Made up of contractors, designers, landscape architects and distributors spanning the United States and Canada, the AOLP strives to share ideas, inspire innovation and raise the standards of the lighting industry. As the only association to serve the outdoor lighting industry, its mission is to promote and advance the industry by providing opportunities for connection, education and collaboration.  

Who can join AOLP? 

Membership is available to: 

• Companies involved in the outdoor lighting industry, including contractors, design firms, architect firms and electrical companies.  
• Distributers of lighting and industry-related products 
• Manufacturers focused on a business-to-business model that offers a full line of industry-related products  
• Affiliate manufacturers that provide products and services related to the industry 
• Industry service providers, companies that provide services or products beneficial to businesses engaged in the lighting industry 
• Educators who are actively teaching lighting and/or related subjects 
• Students currently enrolled in an institution of high education 
• Retirees, current members who are planning to retire to stay involved in committees and receive member benefits 

Why should I join?  

Members receive a variety of benefits, including:  

• Certifications for design and installation through the Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician (CLVLT) and Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer (COLD) programs. These certifications add to your credibility as a valuable resource to customers 
• Networking and professional development at Illuminate, AOLP’s Annual Conference & Expo 
• Access to AOLP’s private Facebook and LinkedIn groups for online networking 
• Opportunities for recognition and promotion through the annual awards program 
• AOLP’s e-newsletter, LightLines, which includes quarterly industry updates and business tips 
• Elevated web presence  
• Marketing, advertising, sponsorship and expo opportunities 
• Exclusive discounts from other manufacturer and distributor members 
• Mentorship opportunities to gain insight on business practices, lighting design, employee relations and more 

Where can I learn more? 

One exciting event coming up for AOLP is the 2025 Irrigation Show and Education Week organized by the Irrigation Association from December 8-11, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. AOLP will be at Booth 121 on the trade show floor, ready to answer your questions.  

Learn more about AOLP and register for the Irrigation Show to stop by their booth and say hello! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how to keep your flags properly illuminated throughout the night. 

Flags are more than just colorful fabric, they are symbols for people and ideals. Take the United States’ flag, which was carefully designed with a star for every state and a stripe for each of the original colonies. Even the classic red, white and blue has a deeper meaning, “The color red represents hardiness and valor, as well as courage and readiness to sacrifice. The color blue signifies justice for all, as well as vigilance and perseverance. The color white stands for purity and innocence.”

Because of the deep meaning behind flags like the star-spangled banner, many countries (including the U.S.) have developed flag codes and protocols that outline the respectful and proper way to display the symbol of their people. Some protocols that are commonly included in these codes include either taking flags down when it becomes dark or making sure they are properly illuminated through the dark hours. 

So, how do you properly illuminate a flag through the night? The Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) has a couple easy tips and tricks to help you keep your flag shining bright through the night! 

• Have the right amount of light: There are countless options for lighting available in today’s market. It’s important to use the right lighting products for each unique situation, otherwise you can run into unexpected hiccups. For example, AOLP has noticed that “flags are often illuminated with HID (high-intensity discharge) lighting and wide-angle floods like 500 or more-watt metal halide lighting when they don’t need to be.” At first glance, this might seem like just simple overkill, but it also can contribute to sky glow light pollution which comes with a variety of negative effects on people and animals. 
• Light with intention: In addition to not using an overpowered light, it's important to plan out the lighting system carefully. According to flag protocol, the flag itself needs to be lit, but the flagpole does not have to be. Because of this, AOLP recommends using a narrow beam of light. They explained, “Most people will use a large flood light for a flag when they simply need to use a spotlight instead. You don’t want to flood the entire area to illuminate the flag; you want to spotlight the flag.” 

Overall, flags should be treated with respect in accordance to their relevant flag code/protocol. Peter Kirkwood, protocol officer at The International Center, put it simply, “Flags aren’t decoration, they’re symbols that are used to represent people or countries.” For many places, treating those symbols with respect means keeping the light on them.  

To learn more about illuminating a flag at night, check out the whole article from AOLP.