Outdoor lighting used to be seen as an expensive luxury that only a few could afford, and even fewer could maintain it all year round. Fortunately, that’s not the case anymore! Here are our best tips for enjoying beautiful, professional outdoor lighting while also saving money and energy. (And with our help, you’ll save time, too.)
Switch to LED bulbs for all permanent outdoor lighting
This is the biggest move you can make to save money on your outdoor lighting. LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient than their incandescent counterparts. They use less electricity, stay cool, and last much longer. They’re just overall a much wiser investment to make than the old-style bulbs that run hot, burn up energy, and don’t last very long. So if you haven’t already switched to LED bulbs for your outdoor lighting, this is your sign to do it now.
Make sure your fixtures are properly spaced and angled
Home uplighting is one of the most popular lighting systems we provide for St. Louis homeowners. It makes sense — good uplighting really does change your home’s appearance dramatically, making it warm, polished, welcoming, and updated.
But here’s the thing: People tend to overestimate the fixtures they need to create this uniform, front-of-home glow. It’s all about the right type of fixtures, set at the best angles, with the proper spacing. With the right setup, you get that perfect uplit look without extra fixtures you don’t really need. And that means less maintenance and less overall energy cost.
💡 7 Ways Residential Outdoor Lighting Can Increase Home Value.
Use motion sensors and timers
These are two different things, but in some cases, you might want to use both on a single outdoor light.
Think about security lighting, for instance: A bright light mounted on the corner of the garage, that illuminates the entire area. You might want it on a timer so you have plenty of visibility when you’re out in the evening, finishing a project or playing a game. But you probably don’t want that bright light coming through the windows all night long. That’s where motion sensors come in. Any motion at a certain range will bring the light on, which is a good deterrent for pesky critters who shouldn’t be there in the first place.
Timers are also great for your more aesthetic outdoor lighting choices, like landscape lights or pathway lights. The key to lighting enjoyment and smart money-saving is to have them on when you need them, and off when you don’t. Timers do the trick without you having to pay attention to it.
Prepare for the seasons
With LED bulbs and good fixture placement, you’ve handled a lot of the ongoing energy cost of an outdoor lighting system. The other aspect to consider is maintenance and repair.
In St. Louis, summers are hot and humid. Spring is rainy or dusty. Fall is perfect, even if it does kick up a few more allergies. Winter, while pretty mild, can do a number on your outdoor fixtures. It only takes one winter storm to send tree branches falling and put your lighting system into all kinds of trouble.
Do what you can with preventive maintenance. Before winter comes on, walk through your yard and outdoor spaces. Identify potential hazards like dead tree branches or unstable outdoor structures so you can get those taken care of before winter winds. And check those fixtures, to make sure they’re sturdy and correctly installed.
While you’re prepping for the seasons, think about the festive look you want for the holidays, too. LED lighting isn’t just for uplights, pathways, or water features — it’s also a great choice for holiday lighting.
Need help with professional installation, switching to LEDs, or getting set up with energy-efficient holiday lighting? Get in touch. We also offer an affordable maintenance plan to our customers. Give us a call!
