If your outdoor lighting isn’t using LED technology, you’re using more energy than you need to! A light emitting diode (LED) is a class of solid-state lighting that uses a semiconductor to convert energy into light. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using LED lights can be six to seven times more energy efficient than conventional incandescent lighting, and as such, can cut energy use by more than 80 percent! More than 80 percent — that’s amazing!
Here are three more amazing things to know about the versatility you’ll have when you use LED lighting to illuminate the exterior of your home …
1. HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR OUTDOOR LED LIGHTS ARE SAFE FROM DAMAGE
LED lights come with an IP — short for ingress protection — rating. A good one to look for when choosing outdoor LED lighting is IP68. (The “6” is the measure of protection from solid or foreign objects the bulb provides and the “8” is the measure of protection from liquids. The solid scale goes from 0-6 and the liquid scale from 0-9.) This modern courtyard is lit entirely with LED lights.
2. LED LIGHTS AREN’T COLD WHITE ANYMORE
LEDs weren’t immediately popular because many people felt the light they emitted was too cold and bright. Color temperature is actually what makes light feel warm or cool? A lower color temperature produces a warmer, more relaxing light and a higher color temperature emits a cooler, more energizing light.
Today’s LED is all about warmth. LED technology makes it possible to enjoy LED without sacrificing the light quality you are used to. You can even get colored LED lighting to make your outdoor lighting extra special. Waterproof LEDs are available for lighting a pool, like these homeowners did. There’s almost no limit to where you can put LED lights.
3. LED OUTDOOR LIGHTING DOESN’T ALL LOOK THE SAME, YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE IT!
You can get discreet outdoor LED fixtures to highlight steps to help your family and guests stay safe in your yard at night. These can be used to delineate the edges of a deck, a planting bed, or even be embedded into a walkway for a subtly lighted path to the front door. LED cafe lighting now also is available and can even be made to look like vintage Edison lightbulbs!
LED BULBS ARE THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING
While it’s true that LED lighting is a little more expensive where upfront costs are concerned, you can expect it to last longer than incandescent. Another advantage is being environmentally friendly since LEDs contain no mercury. What’s more, researchers at Purdue University have developed a process using less expensive silicon wafers in the production of LEDs which has already brought LED lighting into (price) competition with incandescent and compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). Because of this, LED lighting for both indoor and outdoor use is expected to become the new standard in household lighting!
