4 Reasons Why You Should Choose LEDs for Your Home’s Outdoor Lighting

In the past, the question of what kind of lights to use in the outdoor spaces of your [city] home ultimately came down to two options:

• Tungsten-halogen lamps
• High-power fluorescent lamps

For many years, these lighting solutions were all homeowners could really choose from when it came to lighting their front and back yards, the porch area, or the outdoor garage area. But a quick evaluation of these outdoor lighting solutions will show just how flawed they are.

Caveats of Halogens and Fluorescent Lamps

For starters, tungsten-halogen lamps, which are essentially more powerful and slightly longer lasting incandescent light bulbs, are still inefficient and convert a larger percentage of the electricity they use to generate heat instead of light. And the fact that halogens can get so hot also limits their lifespan and puts them at risk of burning out more quickly.

Fluorescent lamps designed for outdoor and landscaping applications attempt to fix these issues, and for the most part, they are actually better in many ways. Watt for watt, fluorescent lamps use far less electricity to generate the same intensity of light as their halogen counterparts. They also have an improved lifespan, helping buyers get the most out of their money.

But they also come with notable flaws. Fluorescent lamps require mercury to generate light, which not only puts the members of your household at risk, it also makes disposal tricky. They can also have an unpleasant glare, which turns into a steady flicker as the lamps age.

Enter the LED Light Bulb

Fortunately, there is a third alternative in the LED light bulb. While at first, LEDs lacked consistency in durability and lighting quality, they are now better than ever, with multiple color options and enough flexibility for a wide range of applications.

Here’s a closer look at why LEDs are simply the best solution for outdoor and landscape lighting.

Benefits of LED Light Bulbs for Outdoor Lighting Applications

1. Instant-on at Full Brightness – LED light bulbs produce their maximum brightness the second they are switched on. You no longer have to deal with the warm-up times or flickering associated with fluorescents and halogens. It seems like a minor detail, but the ability to generate full brightness is important for outdoor applications, such as with pathway lights, which support the safety and visibility of your home’s outdoor spaces.
2. Dimming Ability – A great feature for aesthetic purposes, dimming capabilities allow you to set the mood of home’s outdoor areas. For example, if you’re hosting an outdoor party in the backyard and want it to be intimate, simply turn your lights down low to create a soft atmosphere for your guests.
3. Low Heat – With LEDs, you no longer have to worry about your outdoor lights getting too hot and burning down a nearby tree, or worse, your home itself. LEDs are vastly superior in converting electricity to heat, and most lamps feature a heat sink to improve heat dissipation.
4. Outstanding Durability and Lifespan – The solid-state technology of LEDs means that they boast of outstanding durability and resistance to shocks, extreme temperatures, and external impact. LEDs are also remarkably long lasting, with life spans lasting well over 10,000 hours, after which they begin to grow dimmer.

These reasons should be enough to compel you to take the leap into the world of LED lighting. If you’re planning a retrofit of your [city] home’s outdoor lighting system, now is the perfect time to explore your options in LED lighting.