Energy-efficient outdoor lighting adds to the value of your property while reducing energy consumption. Residential and commercial outdoor lighting can be used to not only beautify your home or business but also improve safety concerns.
Outdoor lighting accounts for approximately 10% to 20% of most homes’ utility bills. So why is it that so many people are clueless about how much they really spend on outdoor lighting? I’m here to let you in on this secret: there is a lot you can do to reduce the amount of money you spend on commercial and residential outdoor lighting.
Efficient Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs were once used for indoor and outdoor lighting. There are now more efficient alternatives to traditional incandescent bulbs. These options include:
LEDs
LEDs offer outdoor lighting that is 10 times more efficient than incandescent lights. With bulbs with 180 individual LEDs, you can light large areas. The bulb is protected by a diffuser lens that spreads the light evenly. With fewer LEDs, you can also install LED garden lights that are smaller.
CFLs
Compact fluorescent lights are four times more efficient than incandescent lamps. Although they can be used outdoors and are more versatile than LEDs, they cannot be used outside. To protect CFLs from the elements, you need to shade or cover them. CFLs may also emit lower levels of light when temperatures drop. CFLs that are labeled for outdoor usage will give you the best performance.
Metal Halide
Metal halide bulbs can be used outdoors for lighting purposes. They are up to four times more efficient than incandescent lamps. They emit light in natural color to the eye. Be aware that metal-halide lights require a warm-up period. This makes them ineligible for use as motion control lights.
Energy-Saving Technology
No matter what type of bulbs you choose, they can be paired with technology to reduce outdoor lighting costs. There are many options:
Light Sensors and Timers
Installing a timer or light sensor will make it easier to forget to turn on your landscape lighting every night. They work in a similar way, turning on your lights only when it is dark outside. Your fixtures are turned on by light sensors at dusk and then switched off at dawn. You can control when your lights are on and off more precisely with timing devices.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensors are the best option if outdoor lighting is intended to light up a path or deter prowlers. These sensors sense movement and automatically turn on when they detect it. They then turn off after a few minutes.
Solar Lighting
This energy-efficient outdoor lighting option is extremely popular as it doesn’t impact your electricity bill and does not require wiring. Due to their efficiency LEDs are often used in solar-powered lights. These components are included in most setups:
- Solar Panel – This is a small solar panel that’s attached to a spike. It provides power for solar lights. For all-night illumination, mount the panel in a place that receives at least four to five hours of sunlight each day.
- Solar Lights – Solar lights are equipped with a small, rechargeable battery to allow them to glow at night using the solar energy they have collected. This battery is usually built into the solar panel to minimize unsightly parts in your yard.
- Light Fixtures – To withstand the elements, solar lights require weather-tight and UV-stable housings. For landscape lighting, the assembly should be simple so that you can take the lights out of their boxes and place them in the ground near your garden path.
LD Lighting installs custom lighting solutions for commercial businesses and homeowners. We specialize in outdoor decorative lights, landscape lighting, pool lighting, and more. With our personalized service, we provide quality installation. We offer a wide range of landscape and outdoor lights that will illuminate your property year-round. For more information call us or visit our website.