LED (Light-emitting diodes) low-voltage landscape lighting will soon be the predominant lighting used in all landscapes due to their improved light quality, cooler running temperatures, more compact size, longer life (up to 30 years), rugged durability due to not having fragile filament, a wide array of color choices, and energy consumption reduced by up to 80% over traditional lighting sources.

Not only does LED lighting have many environment benefits but it also offers far more design versatility due to its more compact size giving the designer the ability to locate the lighting on locations never used before.

Below is a sample of possible savings on an electric utility bill:

Assuming a typical residential landscape has about (40) light fixtures with an average of (35 watts) per light fixture.  This is a total energy consumption of (1,400 watts) to be powered by the transformer.  If LED lights were to be used in replacement of the standard bulbs the savings would average around (80%) making the total energy saved per hour at (1,120 watts).  In California, the average utility cost for electricity is about .12/KwHr.  This means that each hour it costs .12 cents to run (1,000 watts) of lighting. Assuming this, each hour LED lights will save  (.13 cents) when compared to standard lighting.  If the lights were used for (6hrs/night) X (365 days) = 2,190 hrs/year X .13 cents/hr = $284.70 / year in energy savings.  In addition to the energy savings the electric transformer can also be reduced in size saving additional money plus no bulbs will need to be replaced for up to (30 years) whereas the standard bulb will need to be replaced ever (2.5 years).

When looking at all of the monetary savings, plus not having to replace bulbs, plus helping to do your part in saving the planet, it seems like a very easy decision.  At Studio H Landscape Architecture we have been implementing LED lighting in our landscape plans for some time now  and will continue to research the newest advances in lighting to ensure a sustainable product.