Solar Lighting vs. Wired LED Landscape Lighting
Landscape Lighting Research - Fixture Options Solar vs. LED
A simple online search for outdoor lighting will turn up a host of companies that sell outdoor lighting, from online sellers like Amazon and Wayfair to big box stores like Costco and Sam’s Club and even specialty lighting stores. With so many options, how do you make the right choice? The best way to narrow down your selection is to research the different types of fixtures available and know what to look for when purchasing. There are two main types of fixtures on the market right now – solar lights and wired LED lights.
SOLAR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
Solar Landscape Light
Solar powered outdoor lighting is a very popular outdoor lighting trend right now. Homeowners are drawn to solar powered landscape lights because they are relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and seemingly eco-friendly. Sounds like an obvious choice, right? But let’s take a minute to consider the pros and cons of solar powered landscape lighting.
It is true, solar powered landscape lights are relatively inexpensive to buy and extremely easy to install. Simply open the box and pop them in the ground! Because solar landscape lights are powered by the sun, no electrical connection is needed. You don’t need to worry about finding an appropriate power source or burying wire. Homeowners also like the idea of the long-term savings potential associated with solar powered lights.
While solar energy is technically free after installation, let’s consider some of the disadvantages of solar powered landscape lighting. The biggest catch with solar lights is that the fixtures depend on sunlight to work. The lights, therefore, will only be as consistent as the weather. On stormy days or days with shorter daylight hours, your lights may not get a good enough charge. This means that you will be without light at times which could affect the safety and security of your home and property.
Another disadvantage of solar powered landscape lighting is that the fixtures are notorious for fading over time. Sure, they look great the first few weeks after you install them, but as the months go by, the lights will slowly fade to the point that they will need to be replaced.
And this brings us to the final disadvantage – solar powered landscape lights are not as eco-friendly and inexpensive as you may think! Because solar lights fade so quickly, you will be forced to replace the lights even as soon as one year from your initial purchase. Now, unfortunately, one must also factor in the replacement costs as well as the emissions associated with the mass production of low quality lights that will likely end up in a landfill.
Notice in the images below how many solar lights are needed to light the same amount of space that is illuminated by a single LED path light. From a design perspective, less is always more. Also, keep in mind that when these solar lights start to fade, because they are placed so close together, the inconsistency will be very noticeable.
Solar Landscape Lights
LED Landscape Lights
WIRED LED LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
An LED light functions when an electrical current passes through a microchip that illuminates a tiny light source called an LED (Light Emitting Diode) which results in visible light. LED lights are low voltage meaning that they operate at 12 volts or less. LEDs are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent lights and are more advanced than outdated halogen lights making them the most preferred option for landscape lighting.
LED Landscape Light
Here are 3 advantages to low voltage LED lighting:
1. SAFETY
It is much safer to use due to the significantly lower voltage running through the light fixtures. This lower voltage reduces risk of serious electric shock, while also providing a less hazardous option for outdoor lighting installations that are constantly exposed to elements like wind, rain, and temperature changes.
2. VERSATILITY
Low voltage LEDs are the more versatile option when designing a lighting system because they put off significantly more light than solar powered fixtures. Furthermore, there is more variety with regard to the Kelvin Temperature, lumen output, and beam spread of different LED lamps and fixtures. And, finally, they are significantly smaller than solar lights which means that they can be used in areas that would otherwise be difficult to light effectively with solar fixtures.
3. LIFESPAN
LEDs have a significantly longer lifespan. While you may find yourself constantly replacing solar lights and incandescent/halogen bulbs, LED lights can last for 20+ years with proper maintenance.
Energy Efficiency of Wired LED Landscape Lighting
As mentioned earlier, many homeowners choose solar lights for the long-term savings potential, so let’s take a moment and discuss the efficiency and actual costs associated with running a low voltage LED lighting system.
FORMULA
To give you an idea of the monthly cost to run a low voltage outdoor lighting system, use the following formula:
Watts X Hours per night / 1000 X KWH rate X 30 days
EXAMPLE
Estimated cost to run 20 lights for 6 hours each night assuming a rate of $0.11/kW. (Each LED light will consume about 5 Watts.)
100 X 6 / 1000 X .11 X 30 = $1.82/month or $21.84/year
In this example, the cost to run a system with 20 lights for an entire year would be less than 25 dollars which is minimal in the grand scheme of things. As you can see, LED fixtures are very cost effective and energy efficient.
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING DESIGN & INSTALLATION
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LANDSCAPE LIGHTING CHARLOTTE, NC
Thinking about hiring a professional landscape lighting company in and around Charlotte, NC?
At Limelight, outdoor lighting is all we do! We offer design, installation, and maintenance services and would love to help you design a system that makes the most of your landscape — day and night.
Getting started is simple. Call Limelight Outdoor Lighting at (704) 989-3635 or follow the link below to get a FREE quote for your landscape lighting project.