Energy Savings with Outdoor Lighting

Most residential homes have some sort of outdoor lighting fixtures around the exterior of their home.   Whether you are using decorative outdoor fixtures or industrial light fixtures for security you can still save energy by using Energy Star rated fixtures.  The main problem that consumers have with the Energy Star rated light fixtures are their inability to dim the light and the bluish glary light out put.  These myths have really become a thing of the past. 

Compact Fluorescent Lamps or CFLs are now being offered with dimmable ballasts and the CFLs of today are offered with warmer lumen output tones.  Either way when you are thinking about outdoor lighting dimming is usually not an issue nor is a bluish tone.  When choosing outdoor lighting Energy Star fixtures should be a must.

What Lighting Brands Make Outdoor Lighting Fixtures?

There are more and more lighting manufactures jumping on the Energy Star rated lighting band wagon.  They are producing whole outdoor lighting series with wall mount fixtures, post mounts and chain hung all in the same family and finish.  Lithonia lighting has won the American Lighting Association Lighting for Tomorrow award on all three of their outdoor lighting fixture families.  Minka Lavery Outdoor lighting has twenty-three Energy Star rated outdoor lighting families that correlate with similar families that are in their indoor lighting line. 

How Much Money Can I Save with Energy Star Outdoor Lighting?

Energy Star rated outdoor fixtures help reduce energy consumption which helps reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions that are readily destroying our Earth's Ozone layer.  The depletion of our Ozone layer has created a warming trend that will continue to melt polar ice caps that will raise ocean waters and eliminate beach side living.  As well as the ecological concerns you can save a good amount on your energy costs and on having to buy and re-lamp light bulbs.

Below is an example of how much you can save with Energy Star rated outdoor lighting fixtures.  For this example we will imagine two separate homes that are the same size.  One home will use the 9 non-Energy Star rated incandescent outdoor fixtures from the Minka-Outdoor Ardmore family and one home will use 9 Energy-Star rated CFL outdoor fixtures from the Minka Outdoor Ardmore lighting family. 

Minka Outdoor Non-Energy Star Rated lighting package

• (1) Outdoor Lighting Chain Hung Pendant (5x60watts) 8994-61  
• (2) Large Main Entry Wall-Mount (5x60watts) 8993-61
• (2) Large Post Mount (3x60watts) 8996-61
• (3) Medium Wall Mount Garage (1x100watts) 8990-61
• (1) Small Wall Mount Side Entry (1x100watts) 8997-61

Total fixture package cost  = $ 2,806.80 with free shipping

Total lumen output = 1660 watts

Average annual usage utilizing timers and photo cells = 1500 hours

Average Energy cost calculated at $.08 per kilowatt hour $ 199.20

Incandescent Lamp Life = 1500 hrs, total lamps = 25 & lamp cost  = $ 1.50

Lamp Replacement cost = $ 37.50 per year

7 year energy cost, re-lamp cost = $ 1,656.90 (does not included labor to change lamps or gas used to drive to the store to buy lamps)

Total cost after 7 years = 4,436.70

Minka Outdoor Energy Star Rated lighting package

• (1) Outdoor Lighing Chain Hung Pendant (26watts) 8994-61-PL  
• (2) Large Main Entry Wall-Mount (26watts) 8993-61-PL
• (2) Large Post Mount (26watts) 8996-61-PL
• (3) Medium Wall Mount Garage (13watts) 8990-61-PL
• (1) Small Wall Mount Side Entry (13watts) 8997-61

Total fixture package cost  = $ 3,143.30 with free shipping

Total lumen output = 182 watts

Average annual usage utilizing timers and photo cells = 1500 hours

Average Energy cost calculated at $.08 per kilowatt-hour $ 21.84

Compact Fluorescent Lamp Life = 10000 hrs

Lamp Replacement cost = $ 0.00 per year

7 year energy cost, re-lamp cost = $ 152.88 (does included labor to change lamps or gas used to drive to the store to buy lamps)

Total cost after 7 years = 3,296.18

Total Cost savings when using Energy Star rated outdoor lighting package after 7 years

Total Savings = $ 1,140.52 and you get to sleep better knowing that you are helping to save our ever so precious Earth

Read more articles about Energy Star Rated Lighting

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