While halogen lights were a popular option for landscape lighting installations in the past, LED landscape installations are definitely the way of the future. For homeowners deciding between
halogen and LED options, there are a number of factors to consider, but it’s important to keep in mind that the long-term savings and overall efficiency of LED lights make them the better option.
These are the most important considerations:
1. Expense
Halogen lights may be an attractive option because upfront they offer a lower cost proposition, however, in the long-run LED lighting is more cost-effective as the bulbs need to be replaced a lot less often and their energy consumption is significantly lower leading to lower energy costs.
2. Energy Efficiency
Halogen bulbs lose a lot of the energy that they draw to heat, which is why the bulbs tend to get quite hot and don’t last as long. In contrast, LED bulbs, while also producing some heat, have the heat drawn away from the bulb and is dissipated by a heat sink which contributes to the long lifespan of LED bulbs.
The amount of energy the LED bulbs use is significantly lower than the amount that halogen bulbs draw. Switching from halogen to LED bulbs can result in a decrease in energy usage by as much as 80 percent.
3. Color Range
Warm light with a yellow hue is an important aspect of most landscape lighting installations, and this has always been an option for halogen and other incandescent bulbs. In the past, LED bulbs colors were limited, and most were only available in a harsh white light. But LED technology has quickly improved, and fixtures are now available in a wide range of colors and temperatures. In addition, the color tends to be a lot more consistent between fixtures.
A landscape lighting company will be able to offer LED light fixtures in a range of colors and temperatures, allowing homeowners diverse options that can be combined together to create the perfect lighting installation.
4. Lifespan
Halogen bulbs generally have a lifespan of between two thousand and five thousand hours, compared to LED bulbs that can last over 40,0000 hours if they use newer LED technology.
The lifespan of LED bulbs is calculated differently to halogen bulbs. Halogen bulbs fail or burn out, and this determines the end of their useful life. LEDs tend not to fail but rather experience light depreciation, meaning that the amount of light produced by the bulb decreases over time. The lifespan of the bulbs is therefore measured differently for a halogen bulb. For halogen bulbs, it is the
time taken for “50% of a large group of lamps to burn out” and for LED bulbs it is “based on a prediction of when the light output decreases by 30 percent” according to EnergyStar.gov.
5. Maintenance
Neither halogen nor LED fixtures are considered high maintenance, but halogen bulbs will need to be replaced more frequently than LED bulbs (approximately every one to two years). LED fixtures offer the same design flexibility if not more but will not need to have bulbs replaced for upwards of ten years. This makes them a better option for less accessible features or for homeowners looking for a very low maintenance option.
When the factors are looked at as a whole, it becomes clear that LED lighting is a better option for homeowners. Southern Landscape Lighting Systems in Alpharetta are the leading LED landscape lighting specialists offering top of the range fixtures and professional installations at an affordable price. Their high levels of customer satisfaction and commitment to excellent service make them sought-after lighting specialists in Alpharetta and the surrounding areas.