We all know energy costs have been trending up and not down for some time. When considering your outdoor lighting, it’s important to think about energy efficiency. An efficient outdoor lighting system puts money in your pocket. There are a few ways to be energy efficient when it comes to outdoor lighting, so our lighting experts at Nite Time Décor Oakville put together a few ideas that may help.

Plan For Energy Efficiency

This might sound simple and basic, but if you are in the process of developing your outdoor lighting system there are many ways to incorporate energy savings into your design. First, it is important to know and understand your goals for your outdoor lighting system. It might be appropriate to provide brighter lighting for things like walkways and stairs, however dimmer lights may be more appropriate to show off your gardens or architectural features. An effective and aesthetically pleasing outdoor lighting setup is one that varies lighting levels and creates texture and intrigue.

Select Energy Efficient Fixtures

Another consideration during design is fixture selection. Once you know what your goal is, you can begin to select appropriate fixtures. Some can be substituted for more energy efficient fixtures without compromising the lighting levels they will provide. One popular way to dramatically reduce energy consumption is to use LED fixtures. These eco-friendly fixtures may have a slightly higher initial cost, but can quickly make up for those costs with significant energy savings.

Use Programmable Timers

Not every light needs to be on for the entire night so another way to save on energy is to incorporate timers. You can program the lights to be on or off at certain times depending on their purpose. For example, area lighting for entertaining would only need to be on when you are entertaining, however security lighting would stay on from dusk until dawn. It may be helpful to coordinate certain lights into a zone or a group of lights that are controlled by one timer to help simplify the setup. By adjusting when each light is on or off, you are maximizing your energy savings.

Consider Solar Lights

Solar lights may be an option for you depending on where and how you plan to use them. Solar lights have typically been dimmer than other types of lights, however some manufacturers have claimed improved brightness more recently. For some applications such as garden lights, solar lights may be a great solution. However, for areas where a brighter light is needed they may not be the best fixture to use.

Those are just a few ideas for building some energy efficiency into your outdoor lighting system. Even if you already have some outdoor lights there may be a way to incorporate some of these ideas into your system. To maximize each of these it may be helpful to hire a professional to help provide options and customize your outdoor lighting plan to be energy efficient while meeting your specific needs. Contact our team at Nite Time Décor Oakville to get started today!