There are ground-breaking inventions that sometimes need further developments in order to enhance their practical use. One great example is LED (light-emitting diode) lighting. In the early 1960s’, LEDs were introduced as a new economical component of electronic devices. These early LEDS emit low intensity red lights. But as further enhancements in laboratories were conducted over the years, LEDs have greatly improved.
Nowadays, LEDs are not limited to those somewhat low-intensity psychedelic lights of the Flower Power generation. Contemporary LEDs are now capable of emitting high-intensity brightness and are manufactured not just as components of electrical or laboratory devices but also as practical lighting for residential homes. Indeed, the use of LED lighting outdoors is arguably one of the fast-rising trends in the lighting industry today. And it is not very surprising considering the huge benefits that homeowners can gain from using outdoor LED lights.
Durability
One of the essential things that a homeowner would consider before buying something for his residence is durability. Will this stuff last long? When will I need to replace this?
In terms of longevity, nothing can compete with LED lights. A good old incandescent bulb, for instance, would fitter off after 750 to 1000 hours. On the other hand, a fluorescent light will last for a respectable 10,000 to 20,000 hours. That is not even half of an LED’s lifespan. At an average of 50,000 hours, the LED is the king of lights when it comes to durability. That means that if you turn on your LED outdoor light for an average of eight hours a day, you will never need to change it for 10 years.
Emit cool light with the help of diodes instead of heated
An LED emits light using diodes instead of heated filaments or gas. They can be as small as two millimeters in size, making them ideal for compact and hard-to-reach places. They can also last a long time – from twenty-five to seventy-five thousand hours. This equates to approximately twenty years, since you are calculating life expectancy from approximately six hours a day.
Energy Efficiency
Another BIG plus that comes with using LEDs to light your outdoors is efficient energy consumption. Incandescent bulbs are notorious for being avaricious electricity users. That is because incandescent lights emit 98 percent of the energy they use as heat. In contrast, LED light bulbs burn very cool and efficiently converts energy to light.
Environment Friendly
Most people indiscriminately buy light bulbs for the purpose of just lighting their homes and do not consider the after-effects of the bulbs they’ve bought. A responsible homeowner is one that not just considers the benefits that he will gain from a certain type of light but; he should also consider how the light bulb he bought would affect the environment once he is done using it.
Each year about 30,000 pounds of mercury waste that come from fluorescent bulbs leech into the ground across US landfills. So why not consider mercury-free lighting like LEDs? In buying outdoor LED lights you will not only gain practical benefits for your household, but you will also contribute in preserving the well-being of the environment.
Things You Need To Know About outdoor LED light
Over the years, outdoor LED lights have grown steadily in popularity for its benefits, and anyone who has heard of them will surely consider replacing their old bulbs with new ones. Whatever your outdoor lighting needs, be it security or the environment, outdoor LED light always has a lot to offer to keep your outdoor space well lit at night.
As mentioned above, there are many advantages to using LEDs for indoor or outdoor lighting, and one of these benefits is the reduction in power consumption due to their low power consumption, which leads to another benefit – environmental friendliness. This means you can save on your energy bills and at the same time take part in the global efforts to mitigate climate change.
Now that you know the benefits, you probably want to go to your local equipment and purchase such lamps. But before you do that, you should have important information about outdoor LED lighting with you so that you can get the most out of this relatively new lighting technology.
Your outdoor space includes not only a patio or terrace, but your property’s lawn and perimeter, so planning where lighting is needed so you can strategically place your LED lights where they will provide the most value of lighting. If you want to illuminate a large area with a light pole, you should know that the best height to achieve this effect is 8 to 10 feet from the ground.
It is also necessary to determine the areas in which you will use the light, because there are corresponding outdoor LED lights for every part of your outdoor living space. To illuminate your patio or terrace, look for LED lights designated for that specific area so you won’t get dimmer or lighter lighting than what you need.
For accent lighting, you can opt for an LED spotlight for this purpose, and for attractions in your yard, such as a grotto, flower garden, etc., you can opt for those smaller globes or rope lanterns. Since their purpose is not really to brighten an area, but only to accessorize, you only need a little soft glow enough to delineate that area at night.
String lights are useful on a variety of occasions to create a festive mood, and when using this type of light, one thing you should never do is mix LED lighting with traditional lights, otherwise you risk catching fire from your lights. Instead, always follow the instructions on the packaging on how to use string lights.
Not all outdoor LED light suitable for outdoor use, so make sure they are properly labeled for outdoor LED lighting when purchasing, and if you bought something for indoor use, never try to use it outdoors thinking, that you will be able to keep what you have spent. And to be sure of the quality of the LED lamp, buy those brands whose reputation you trust.