As a former HOA president, I know how important it is for property owner associations to spend money responsibly for the good of the neighborhood, and save money wherever they can. The common areas like parks, recreation areas, trails, boat docks or pools can be maintenance money pits, and potential hazards after dark. Basic expenses in any sub-division include cutting the grass, irrigation systems, landscapes and, of course, there should be lighting.
Lighting is extremely important in the parks and recreation areas to insure the residents and guests who use these areas are not injured as they move about after dusk. We all know that there are times when everyone is having fun and then - before you know it - it’s too dark to play safely. Additionally, there should be lighting at the entries into the sub division. Most people only think of lighting the signage, which is important, but the entry to the community is a part of the HOA identity as well, and should announce to the resident or guest the pride shown in the neighborhood. It is the first impression and last impression that someone gets when entering, leaving or even simply passing by. These areas may not need to be lit for safety as much as for impact and drama.
Unquestionably, lighting for your HOA is very important. Having no lighting or poorly maintained lighting with a few lights out at the entries can make the wrong statement to someone passing by, especially if those lights were supposed to be shining on the signage. Your invited guest might just miss it completely and end up lost or worse, may not see it until they are right on top of it, hit their brakes and… create a dangerous situation. In dock and park areas, burned out lamps could actually contribute to a serious injury.
Halogen lighting is the same kind of lighting that you probably have in your home. The typical halogen light bulb will last an average of 4000 hours, meaning that half of them may burn out before that, and half of them will last longer - it’s just an average. Operating from dusk to dawn, they would only last about 1 year. Mercury vapor lights, frequently seen with that weird greenish glow, are currently being phased out of use in the United States. Replacing those bulbs is becoming harder to do as supplies are depleted, and they do not make or sell the ballasts needed for them anymore. There are some places where we see metal halide lighting which does have its place, mostly in commercial settings like parking lots, tennis courts, etc. These lights are usually upwards of 250 watts per fixture – not generally dark-sky friendly, and the light bulbs are pretty pricy indeed. They do last a long time however, up to 20,000 hours.
All of the above lighting options end up costing a lot of money for the HOA. Electrical expenses for this type of lighting can really make your head spin, but that is not what makes these lighting products expensive to operate. It costs far more to maintain this lighting than it does to operate it. The halogen lamps have to be replaced every year, at least. The mercury vapor or metal halide have to be replaced about every 3-5 years, but cost a lot more per bulb and or ballast, when available. In addition to the expense of the light bulbs or ballasts, you also have the labor expenses for the technician involved. In most instances, it is unlikely that a member of the community can safely take on these maintenance duties.
By far, the best option for HOAs now is LED lighting. Although LED lighting does cost more up front, between the energy savings and the maintenance savings, it usually pays for itself very quickly. For new installations, it may actually cost less to install LED than the other lighting options. As a matter of fact, a couple of years ago we were handed a sub division project which had been designed to use low voltage halogen lighting. There were over 200 lights designed (by a landscape architect) to be installed throughout the area. We were able use all LED products for a lot less money than if we had gone with the original designated products. Of course, all these LED fixtures use about 80% less energy, and we have not had to replace any light bulbs since it was installed, saving big bucks on maintenance.
There will always be some necessary maintenance to do on any outdoor lighting system, however. Lenses have to be cleaned, which is MUCH easier for an LED fixture; as well as adjustments for plant growth, which is extremely hard and considerably more expensive for the mercury vapor, metal halide and line voltage halogen.
So, if you live in a community with a homeowners association or property management, suggest that a review of your lighting needs be done, and encourage your board to look into installing or converting your common area lighting to LED to stretch those dues dollars in a very positive way.
If you would like us to come out and take a look at your neighborhood, drop us a note at info@night-scenes.com .
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