How to Save Money on Your Outdoor Lighting System

Outdoor lighting is an essential part of creating a safe, secure, and aesthetically appealing home. Unfortunately, for many homeowners, it can also be a drain on the wallet. Landscape lighting doesn’t need to be prohibitively expensive. Here are a few simple ways that you can save money on your outdoor lighting system.

Invest In Efficient Bulbs

Not all light bulbs are created equal. Incandescent bulbs — the least energy-efficient type by far — used to be the most common. The simple reason for that is that they were the cheapest. Traditional incandescent bulbs are no longer sold in the United States, but the lesson is still important. When looking for bulbs, make sure you think long term. Paying less for a bulb may sound good now, but if you can get one for a dollar more that lasts 10 times as long and uses a fraction of the energy, you come out way ahead.

Examples of more energy-efficient options include:

• LEDs – Light emitting diodes are typically the preferred option for outdoor lighting. Of all the bulbs suitable for outdoor lighting, LEDs are the most efficient.
• CFDs – Compact fluorescent lights are less efficient than LEDs, but still a fairly good option. One downside is that performance varies with temperature, and on cold nights they may give off less light.
• Metal Halide – Metal halide lights give off a pleasing, natural light — making them a great option if you use your outdoor lighting for aesthetic purposes.

Use Motion-Sensing Lights

If you primarily use your outdoor lighting to provide light for security or safety purposes, you should look into motion sensing lights. Not only are motion sensing lights more convenient, they can also save you money. People forget to turn off their lights all the time, and it wastes quite a bit of energy. With motion sensing outdoor lighting you don’t have to worry about this. They turn on when you need them and automatically turn off when you’re done.

Keep Up With Maintenance

Outdoor lighting is built to be rugged, and it can typically withstand quite a bit. With that said, you still need to make sure that the components are well-maintained. Here are a few things that you should be doing to keep your outdoor lights in good shape:

• Keep the bushes and trees near your lights trimmed back
• Routinely remove built-up debris
• Keep an eye out for damaged cables
• Change out damaged bulbs

This routine maintenance will ensure that your outdoor lights operate at full efficiency for as long as possible.

Go Solar

Solar-powered outdoor lighting is a great way to save money while also doing some good for the environment. Your typical outdoor lighting doesn’t require all that much energy. A few hours of direct sunlight per day is all it takes to store enough charge to power your lighting for an entire night. Another benefit of solar-powered lights is the lack of messy wiring. You don’t take care of your yard just to fill it with unsightly wires and electrical components. That also makes maintenance much easier.

These are just a few examples of ways you can save money on your outdoor lighting. For more information make sure you get in touch with a professional. They will be able to assess your current outdoor lighting situation and recommend the improvements that will be most impactful.