If you're considering Franklin landscape lighting, one of the first decisions you'll face is “solar, halogen, or LED.” The differences between them are major, and most factors, including fixture lifespan, light quality, operating cost, and climate performance, favor LEDs.
You’ll want to make the right choice because outdoor lighting is a big investment. In this article, we’ll discuss how each option compares and why LED has become the professional standard.
Solar lights sound good on paper, but have major flaws that make them unsuitable for long-term Franklin landscape lighting
Solar lights come with no wiring, no electricity cost, no installation complexity. The pitch is appealing. The reality, in Ohio, is less so.
Solar fixtures are entirely dependent on how much sunlight they receive each day. In Ohio, overcast skies and gray winters limit the amount of light that solar fixtures can receive. That’s why most consumer solar fixtures can put out as few as 10 lumens. A professionally installed LED landscape lighting fixture typically starts at 100 to 400 lumens, a gap which is as noticeable as it sounds.
Solar units are also self-contained, which means the panel, battery, and light are housed together. If one component fails (usually the battery after a year or two), the entire fixture will need to be replaced. There is no ability to control timing, dimming, zoning, or color temperature. What you get out of the box is what you get, and in Ohio's climate, what you get is often inconsistent. All in all, it's a poor fit for a designed lighting system in Franklin.
Halogen was the standard for decades, but LEDs have improved upon it
Halogen earned its place. The color output was warm, the brightness was good, and the fixtures were widely available. It was the standard for decades for those three reasons and more. But lucky for all of us, technology has moved on.
The biggest problem is that halogen bulbs only turn about 10 to 15% of energy into light. The rest is lost as heat, which drives up operating costs and makes the bulbs incredibly hot to the touch. So hot are the bulbs that they can scorch mulch and stress plant roots near ground-level installations. Kids and pets can burn themselves on them. Furthermore, the bulbs last roughly 2,000 to 4,000 hours (about 15% as long as LED bulbs), which means frequent replacements and ongoing maintenance calls.
Halogen systems also draw three to five times more electricity than an equivalent LED setup. For a typical 20-fixture installation, that difference adds up to hundreds of dollars a year on an Ohio electric bill. And many halogen landscape fixtures are no longer manufactured, making repairs and replacements increasingly difficult for homeowners still running older systems.
Why Franklin landscape lighting professionals recommend LED
Compared to halogen, LED landscape lighting draws 75 to 80% less energy. A 20-fixture system that costs about $50 monthly on halogen bulbs is likely to cost closer to $10 for LEDs. The LED fixtures will also likely last much longer, with some running 20-plus years with minimal bulb replacement.
Cost alone could justify an upgrade, but there are other elements to consider as well. One big one is that LEDs don’t get nearly as hot, which means you’re far less likely to be at risk of burns after touching bulbs. Modern LEDs can also be adjusted for color temperature, ranging from warm to cool, which is something halogen and solar bulbs have never been able to offer.
Also important, particularly in Ohio, LED handles freeze-thaw cycles and temperature swings far better than halogen. The reduced heat cycling inside the fixture housing means less stress on seals and connections over time.
LED is also fully compatible with smart controls, dimmers, timers, and zoning systems. You can run different lighting scenes for entertaining, security, and ambiance from a single app. If you're interested in learning more about LED outdoor lights, our low-voltage lighting page covers the specifics.
Choosing a Franklin landscape lighting company that installs LED correctly
The technology matters, but so does the installation. A poorly designed LED system will underperform no matter how good the fixtures are. Angles, spacing, fixture selection, and wiring all need to be right for the system to look intentional and last.
When considering any Franklin landscape lighting company, it’s always wise to ask which fixtures they use, whether they offer smart controls and zoning, and what kind of warranty backs the installation. Companies that take quality seriously, such as Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, will likely use higher-quality materials like heavy-gauge brass and copper fixtures so the systems will run for decades, rather than seasons.
What to look for in a Franklin outdoor lighting company
A Franklin outdoor lighting company worth hiring should be willing to come to your property after dark and walk the space with you before designing anything. That nighttime consultation is how the best systems get planned, because daytime photos don't tell you where the light falls in practice.
Call Outdoor Lighting Perspectives for outdoor lighting companies near me.
For experts in outdoor lighting design, installation, and maintenance, call one of the most trusted names in the business. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is eager to speak with you. Call us today at (937) 421-8101.