Recently I learned California is changing its building codes.
One item was lighting was to be 24 V DC. Great idea, save money.
While watching the news and watching all those nice wooden house burn, may be they should build their buildings with fire proof materials like brick and/or thick walled cement with outdoor sprinklers in case fire gets to close..
Another item was some type of alternative power like wind or solar...
Low volt lighting is a great idea....its installation cost has come down to the point of being competitive with 120 volt, and it's cheaper, and safer to use.
Solar or wind power has a ways to go, as the cost of installing in a private home is way to high....it would take 25 years to pay for itself, and when it finally does, it has come to the age of cost of repairs.
Fire proof building is always a good idea....sprinklers dedicated to fire protection is a must here in the Interior. If you do install them, there is one thing you should know here in BC. They need to be run if a interface approaches your home, and you could be without power, so a protected back up pump is required....also, when Forestry arrives to inspect the vapour protection barriers on your place, they will see the sprinklers going, and move to your neighbors that ran away early and left their place unprotected.....they will focus their resources there, and ignore your place.
Most structure protection contractors are from out of province, and hired by forestry, and they have an overwhelming job to do, with the approaching fire...if your place burns, and you have installed the fire sprinklers yourself, it becomes your problem to take up with your insurance companies......
Having said that, I've seen lots of places burn inside of a interface......and I've seen plenty survive, due to one sprinkler going on the roof, when the places on either side burn down to the ground from lack of sprinklers.
Install two on either end of the home....ON THE PEAK OF THE ROOF, not the gable face, with lines inside the walls to protect them.
Those sprinklers may run for weeks, even if your evacuated, as the contractors will fuel your back-up pumps daily to protect your home...the walls will become saturated, and the damage inside is considerable, from saturated weeping, or water damage.....and you installed them yourself, and on purpose.
It now becomes an argument with your insurance company, for a payment far below what you may believe they are required to pay....and you will cave, due to professionally trained negotiating.
Oh....and you might have guessed I am a fire fighter, although I'm considering retirement, so one more thing....your landscaping will attract fire, so be conscious of what you plant close to your home. Some plants are very fire resistant....they will die from the heat, but act as a short term barrier against a fast moving fire...other plants may help light it up.
