Warm weather will soon be upon us, which is why it is an important time to think about your landscape lighting needs. LED lighting is a great choice for your garden, walkway, or any landscape lighting project because it outperforms traditional landscape lights in six key ways, including lifespan and energy efficiency. Here’s how an LED light works and why it should be your year-round outdoor lighting solution.
What Is LED Lighting?
The term “LED” stands for “light-emitting diode.” LEDs are semiconductors that use a groundbreaking electronic process called electroluminescence in which electrical energy is converted directly into light.
LEDs have been around for many decades, primarily for applications in laboratory and scientific settings. But in recent years, they have been adapted for widespread consumer use as well. Today, they’re by far the most popular choice for residential and commercial landscape lighting projects. The demand for LED lights shows no signs of stopping; here’s why.
What Are the Six Benefits of LED Lighting?
1. Extremely Long Lifespan
The average LED bulb lasts 50,000 hours. This is 50 times the average lifespan of an old-fashioned incandescent bulb. It’s also about seven times the lifespan of a fluorescent lighting fixture.
Imagine how much money you can save over the years by upgrading to LED bulbs. Not only that, but you won’t have to constantly replace dead bulbs, saving you time and peace of mind as well.
2. Superior Energy Efficiency
Some people get confused when they see packaging for old-fashioned light bulbs compared to LED lights. Typically, the box lists the amount of wattage the bulb uses, giving the impression that light output is measured in watts. Since old-fashioned light bulbs tend to be rated at a much higher wattage than LED bulbs, it can seem like they are also much brighter than their LED counterparts.
In reality, light is measured according to lumens, a universally accepted metric for describing the brightness of a lighting fixture.
A traditional 100W incandescent bulb produces about 1600 lumens. To do so, it consumes 100 watts of power on a continuous basis. This is considered wasteful by modern energy efficiency standards.
In comparison, a modern LED bulb uses only 11-12W of power to create the same number of lumens. This is why LED lighting can save you 70% or more on your outdoor lighting bill.
3. Enhanced Environmental Benefits
Because LED lights burn much longer than incandescent or fluorescent designs, they create far less landfill waste.
LED lights also consume much less electricity than older alternatives. Using less electricity means using a much smaller amount of nonrenewable resources.
These characteristics make LED lighting a great choice for those who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s good for the earth and good for your budget, too.
4. Ability to Function in All Types of Weather
Traditional lighting options are highly sensitive to changes in outdoor temperatures. For example, fluorescent lights can flicker and dim when the mercury plunges since cold weather blocks their ability to use electrical voltage efficiently.
On the other hand, LED lighting provides consistent results in all types of weather. That’s why it’s the perfect choice for use here in Texas where dramatic temperature swings often occur from one season to the next.
5. Heat-Free Performance.
Incandescent light expends about 90% of its energy pouring heat, not light, into the surrounding environment. This poses a potential burn risk for plants, animals, and children that get too close to the lighting element.
LED lights avoid this problem by converting almost all the electricity they receive into light, not heat. This makes them the ideal solution for walkways, gardens, and other areas where family members or visitors are nearby.
6. Direction of Light
Old-fashioned incandescent lights emit light in a 360° pattern which forces manufacturers to add extra hardware to channel the light in the desired direction. LED fixtures avoid this problem by spreading light in a 180° pattern, making them a great energy-efficient choice for gardens, pathways, and recessed lighting.
Ready to make the switch?
LED lighting offers benefits that incandescent and fluorescent products simply can’t match, but that doesn’t mean they are failsafe. They vary widely in terms of quality and reliability, so choose the wrong brand and you may find yourself disappointed with the results.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to avoid this problem. Simply purchase all of your LED and other outdoor lighting products from trusted providers. Look no further than our experienced team here at Enhanced Outdoor Lighting & Design in Austin and San Antonio.
All of our light fixtures are backed by our ironclad 15 year/40,000 hour warranty. Additionally, our retrofit upgradable lamps are covered by an exclusive six-year quality guarantee.
We also provide professional design services for our customers. Let us create the perfect outdoor lighting solution for your home, business, or other property informed by years of experience and extensive skill sets.
The sooner you contact us, the sooner you’ll enjoy the advantages of being our customer, so schedule your visit with us today! You’ll soon be on the road to a better, brighter future.
