Halogen vs LED, Head to Head

So, one of my lighting buddies was pulling my chain the other day via Facebook messages. In his own interesting way he was suggesting that I let my readers and potential clients know the real costs involved using LED lighting compared to the halogen lighting that has been used for eons. Not a bad idea – so, here goes.

We will examine the actual cost of operating the different systems.

Figures will assess costs for an outdoor lighting system using 30 fixtures each producing light equivalent to a 20 watt MR16 halogen lamp. The system will be set to operate for six hours per night annually.

HALOGEN

• 600 watts total energy
• Annual electrical cost: $131.00. Cost for 18 years: $2358.00 (central Texas average of .10 per KWH)
• Halogen lamps are rated for up to 5000 hours of use; each lamp will have to be replaced every other year at a cost of $12.50 per lamp plus labor (let’s say $10.00 per lamp, down lights in tree could be more while ground mounted fixtures would be less). Cost of replacing 30 lamps 9x at $22.50 per lamp over 18 years: $6075.00.
• Average annual operating cost: $468.50
• Total operating cost (after installation) for 18 years: $8433.00

LED

• 135 watts total energy for same light output
• Annual electrical cost: $29.50. Cost for 18 years: $531.00
• LED fixtures and lamps are rated for 40,000 hours of use. No replacement will be necessary for about 18 years eliminating this expense entirely!
• Total operating cost (after installation) for 18 years: $531.00
• Over the life of the lighting system, LED will save $7902.00 in operating costs.

It is likely that the cost of electricity and labor will increase over the next 18 years, so these numbers may not be wholly accurate down the road a bit. It is also necessary to remember that all lighting systems require a little maintenance from time to time to check wiring, clean lenses, and re-direct light to accommodate growth and changes in landscape. But if saving more money in the long term is your goal – as well as reducing your energy consumption – it is clear to see that LED is the best way to go!

Why Bother with Professional Holiday Lighting?

At last the weather is finally getting cooler and bells are ringing! Maybe a little early for the traditional Christmas bells, but our phone has already been ringing for a month with requests for holiday lighting designs and scheduling. What is it about our holiday lighting services that would cause our clients start calling in August to be put on the schedule?

The most critical issue is time. There is only so much time to do this job. Most of our clients want their holiday lighting up by Thanksgiving. A reasonable request. This would be no big deal at all but very few clients are willing to allow their Christmas lights to be installed before Halloween. So, time is of the essence for our crews trying to install everyone in about three weeks. First call, first signed contract, first on the schedule!

Another special feature we offer is custom designs and fitted light strands specific for your property to meet your holiday needs. Light strings can be made to fit the roofline of the home so there are no lighting swags from one roofline to the other. We can also use custom color schemes like red and white or maybe red and green or whatever the client likes to make the project stand out in the neighborhood. Our energy efficient LED products use 90% less energy than the old incandescent lights that we used a few years ago. This allows us to put all of the lighting onto one controller, insuring that all of the lighting comes on and goes off at the same time. And no one has to worry about tripping circuit breakers. We have access to some beautiful specialty products to punch up the designs as well, like bows, lighted garland and lighted yard art to round out a complete outdoor wonderland!

Who wouldn’t love the convenience of having someone else take care of this particular “honey do” project? No tangle of wires for you to deal with, no treacherous trips up the ladder to the roof, and no stops at the store for “just one more” extension cord! Again, we can give you that time back during the hectic weeks of the holiday season. Our professional crews arrive; expertly install your custom designed festival of lights and when we leave – ta-da! You’ve got a great holiday display to show off to your neighbors without breaking a sweat – or an arm or a leg. Add an astro timer and the homeowner (or business owner) doesn’t even have to flip a switch to turn it all on. Another bonus: after the first of the New Year, our crews return to take everything down, and take it all to our storage facility until the next holiday season. A holiday lighting project is completely hands off for our clients; they don’t even have to trip over the holiday decoration boxes throughout the year!

One last thing, you know those really cool homes that have the awesome holiday lighting that flashes to music? Well, we can do that too!!

So, it’s not too early to be thinking “Happy Holidays” - and remember that using a professional holiday lighting company can make your days merry and bright (and stress free).