Is Your Landscape Lighting Up To Date? Switching to LED

Like all technology in recent years, the technology in the landscape lighting industry has been evolving. In particular, modern landscape lighting has become more energy efficient, more environmentally-friendly, and more elegant.

One of the biggest changes over the past five years has been the introduction of LED lighting. At first, LED lights couldn’t compete with halogen lights, but now LED lighting is the standard in outdoor lighting installation.

What does this mean for your outdoor lighting system? If your landscape lighting still runs on halogen bulbs, there’s a chance you may need an upgrade to a new system.

When your landscape lighting system is out of date
Like your roof and HVAC system, your landscape lighting system will eventually run its course. Although landscape lighting fixtures are built to last, they can become worn over the years and will eventually need replacement.

This is especially true in light of the LED bulb’s conquering of the outdoor lighting installation industry. Landscape lighting that was initially designed for halogen bulbs may not be compatible with LED bulbs and therefore new fixtures may be necessary.

However, this isn’t necessarily true. If your system is in good shape and only needs some redesign, you may be able to work with your outdoor lighting service to get your system up to date. But if your system is reaching the end of its life, it may be in your best interest to simply install a new landscape lighting system.

Landscape lighting is considered essential, according to 41% of homeowners, but only newer systems are capable of using LED lights. This may seem like an unnecessary expense to some homeowners, but overall LED lighting can actually save homeowners money.

LED lights provide superior illumination while using less energy. Even better, they produce a very small amount of heat compared to halogen lights. Therefore, not only would your utility bills be reduced, but so would the risk of a fire.

It can be difficult to tell whether or not your landscape lighting system is up to date or whether it will operate using LED light bulbs. For more information on landscape lighting and exterior lighting installation in St. Louis, contact Radiant Exterior Lighting today.

Have You Been Asking These Outdoor Lighting Questions?

When it comes to outdoor lighting, several things come to mind. Elegance, illumination, and minimalism are just a few of them. But if you’re new to the world of landscape lighting, you may have a few questions that need answering.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. You just might find the answers you’re looking for below.

Why should I work with a professional outdoor lighting designer?
If there’s one thing you need to keep in mind about landscape lighting around your home, it’s that DIY is a bad idea. Fortunately, professional landscape lighting designers are here to help. When you work with a professional lighting designer, you can count on the following:

• Technology – If you’re creating a lighting design, having the proper technology to do so is incredibly important. And unless you’re a professional lighting designer yourself, you may not have the resources or knowledge to use this tech properly.
• Education – Of course, the most important reason to hire a lighting designer is education. These professionals have been highly trained in the art of creating beautiful exterior lighting designs. You can trust them with the exterior of your home.

How much will outdoor lighting affect my energy bills?
Considering that most homeowners only have their outdoor lights on for four to five hours per day, the cost factor is a very small one. In addition, almost 73% of homeowners are opting for LED lights, which use only 15% of the energy that a standard halogen bulb does, while emitting up to 85% more light. All in all, if a homeowner uses their outdoor lights for five hours per day at an electricity cost of 12 cents per kilowatt, we’re talking maybe an additional $10 to $12 per month. When you think about how gorgeous the exterior of your home will look at night, that extra cash is nothing.

How will I control my garden and patio lights?
Currently, the most popular method of controlling outdoor landscape lighting is with a Lighting Control Automation (LCA) system. There are different systems out there, but every LCA offers the same basic control options. So if you want your lighting times adjusted seasonally, you’ve got it!

If exterior lighting installation is still on the brain, make sure all of your questions are answered. For more information and a St. Louis landscape lighting consultation, contact Radiant Exterior Lighting today.