Last month we introduced our audience to the advances in light emitting diodes (LED) lighting and the great "green" benefits these fixtures can have on our environment over other outdoor lighting options. New color and fixture development have made LED lights the most energy efficient way to increase the beauty of outdoor spaces while saving money and electricity.
Perfecting the color of white light has been no easy task. Past versions of LED white have looked too blue and cold. Now, the leading LED chip maker and well-respected lighting fixture manufacturers have finally captured the warm glow we humans are so comfortable with using an exclusive selection process called binning. With properly defined color preference, LED lighting can easily be an acceptable and cost-conscious alternative in every outdoor lighting application now being served by halogen, regular incandescent, or even high-voltage mercury vapor lights. The greenish glare of high voltage monster mercury vapor lights can be seen all over the hill country, used primarily for commercial purposes. These obtrusive fixtures are being phased out and will soon become obsolete as replacement parts are discontinued due to high levels of mercury. LED would make a great "green" replacement.
Compact yet powerful, an LED fixture can be used to cast a soft, warm moonlight pattern on your lawn, light up a parking lot or subdivision entryway, show off the tallest palm tree or your favorite old oak tree. These attractive alternatives can also be used for deck and pool lighting, enhancing architecture and landscapes or adding a level of safety around driveways, pathways and steps—just like their halogen, incandescent, and mercury vapor counterparts. In fact, the average property owner may not be able to distinguish the LED fixture from many of their energy guzzling cousins. Unlike other choices, each LED fixture is a complete unit; the "light bulb" is built into the housing. This unique design accommodates the dissipation of heat, and creates a product impervious to environmental elements. Green thinkers know that this means they will not be contributing to an ever-growing mountain of burnt out light bulbs in our landfills. And the warm white light generated can make any outdoor space look inviting and friendly.
Because an LED fixture uses fewer watts to produce the same actual light output, installing the lighting system requires smaller, less expensive wire and smaller transformers. Installation is quicker, lowering labor cost. And less system maintenance is necessary because of the exceptional durability of the product. Although the cost of the LED fixtures themselves can be about twice the cost of other light fixtures, these other components help to keep total installation expenses down to only 20% more than the average non-LED system. But you will be hanging on to more of your greenbacks each month when your LED lighting system costs you 80% less than the power-hungry competition.
Replacing previously installed fixtures on residential or commercial properties with energy efficient LEDs is a simple fix for the professional lighting installer. High quality LED fixtures are not yet available for the do-it-yourselfer, and the procedure does require knowledge of electricity, voltage, drop and lighting behavior to create the best possible appearance in any lighting situation. However, this is an investment guaranteed to please you visually and financially. Lighting typically consumes 8.8% of our total home energy (and a higher percentage in commercial use). Imagine the positive effects our local communities could have on the environment and our economy if all outdoor lighting was simply replaced with LED fixtures. We encourage our forward-thinking readers to look around at the lighting on flags and signs; check out a beautifully illuminated palm tree or a well-lit parking lot; and then consider the potential savings. Reducing our energy consumption and conserving expenses by using LED lighting just makes sense, and it's a "green" thing to do!