By Bob Kelly
At Elegant Custom Images one of the most frequently asked questions we get during a landscape lighting consultation is, “How long do outdoor LED bulbs last?”
It’s a valid question since LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs are generally more expensive than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. But advances in LED landscape lighting technology have vastly lowered the manufacturing cost, while at the same time, improving quality. In fact, LEDs are now widely recognized as a highly efficient and reliable form of landscape lighting.
At Elegant Custom Images, we use Cree LED chips, and drivers by National Semiconductor. Cree sets the standard for LED lighting, supplying chips that have the best performances in output, lifespan and stability. We also chose these suppliers because their outdoor lighting products are made in the USA, so you don’t have to wait for shipments to arrive from overseas. We use 30,000 hour rated LED chips in our outdoor landscape lighting fixtures. That amounts to 3-1/2 years if the lights were left on twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Since outdoor lighting is on a fraction of that time, the bulbs should last a lot longer. And they are guaranteed for 5 years.
Benefits of LED Lighting for Outdoor Landscapes
LED lights are highly desirable in landscape design for several reasons. The LED bulbs are low wattage, but produce immense light output. The size of the fixture also matters to an extent, since when it’s a little larger, it can dissipate the heat from the LEDs more efficiently. The more heat gets dissipated, the longer the drivers last. And since they don’t get as hot as traditional light bulbs, there is less danger using LEDs near plants and trees.
The flexibile nature of LEDs allows for more creative design in outdoor landscapes throughout Winter Park, Orlando, and Central Florida. In addition, LED lights do not emit UV rays, so they don’t attract insects. When the landscape lighting system is designed correctly, with the proper voltage maintained at each fixture, the system will run a very long time.
One of the other major benefits of LED lights is that they are much more energy-efficient than standard lighting systems. You’ll wind up saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on utility bills. Your initial out-of-pocket cost for an LED installation in Lake Nona or Winter Park will be greater than what you’d spend on standard low-voltage systems. But you’ll make that money back in about 3 years.
The amount of energy saved from using LEDs is comparable to:
- Taking 6 cars off the road a year
- Planting 6 acres of trees
- Removing 6 lbs. of CO2 emissions
If you have any questions about outdoor landscape lighting design, LED lights, installation or maintenance, contact Elegant Custom Images at 321-217-7822.
