Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting

Lowering Energy Costs

Lowering costs using the cheap tips outlined below will certainly reduce your utility bills. Specifically, you'll save money using energy efficient outdoor lighting by focusing in on both the lighting and the controls; which regulate your light usage.

Energy Efficient Light Bulb - Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting

If you look around your neighborhood, you'll probably notice that many of your neighbors still use the standard incandescent bulbs which are electricity guzzlers.

And although the upfront cost for these standard bulbs is cheaper, you'll be paying a much higher electrical bill using standard instead of the energy efficient lighting.

• Sodium Fixtures

  Low pressure sodium light fixtures are the way to go. In fact, this is the most efficient outdoor lighting you can get your hands on.

  We use these lights for all of our outdoor needs and have noticed a big drop in our electrical bill.

  If you can live with a couple of very minor inconveniences, this is the way to go.

  Specifically, you'll find that the sodium lights give off a yellowish glow and also take a few minutes to come to full brightness. But if you’re looking for maximum energy savings, go with the sodium fixtures.

• Metal Halide

  If you prefer a more natural color, then metal halide lighting is your next best energy efficient bet. Like the sodium units, the metal halides are at least 3 times more efficient than the standard incandescent lights.

Creative Outdoor Lighting

• Solar Lighting Outdoor

  Especially for outlining your shrubs, flowers, etc., you can't go wrong with this cheap landscape lighting. It's a free source of energy courtesy of the sun.

• Photocells

  Many people, including my family, like to use photocells because they're compatible with sodium and metal halide lighting.

  Basically, photocells will turn your lights on automatically at dusk and will shut them off when it gets light outside. Photocells are also less expensive than time clock controlled units.

  Should you choose the photocell path, you'll also find that they're the best option for sodium and metal halide fixtures. Since sodium and halide lighting take longer to warm up, they require photocells to ensure they are on when needed.

  You may be thinking, what about using outdoor motion sensors with sodium or halite lighting. Well, they are useful for incandescent lamps, but not the more energy efficient sodium/halite lighting.

Wrapping It Up

Frugal living at its finest!