For the third post in our Energy Saving Outdoor Lighting series, we’re going to focus on walkway lighting, which is used as a decorative element and to help people safely navigate a path. Walkway lighting also creates a warm, welcoming ambiance that makes visitors feel comfortable and encourages them to remain on your property. If you have a business, creating this mood can mean the difference between having patrons at all hours or losing significant potential customers at dusk. Still, if you really want your walkway lighting to pay off, you have to think about energy efficiency as well, because no one wants their gorgeous, new lights to come with a hefty electric bill or contribute to environmental harm.
The two major types of walkway lights are bollards and post lights. So, let’s take a look at each kind and what sorts of energy saving features are available.
Bollards
Bollards are low-profile, outdoor lights positioned at ground level. They’re usually cylindrical or square-shaped, but they come in wide range of shapes, sizes, and finishes. As with most walkway lighting, bollards are designed with both form and function in mind, which means they enhance the look of a path or landscape while also making it easier for people to walk safely when it’s dim outside.
When purchasing bollards, you have your choice of battery operated, solar powered, or hardwired lights. The type you select will depend on your specific lighting goals. For instance, if the bollards are mostly for aesthetic purposes, then you may decide an energy-saving solar unit will fit your needs — even if the lights are dimmer. However, if the bollards are meant to increase safety, then you’ll probably be more satisfied with the bright, instant-on light of a hardwired luminaire.
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a bollard is its build quality. When you consider these lights are at ground level — where they are susceptible to being stepped on, kicked, or driven over — it makes sense that durable construction is a necessity. Generally, those with a metal shell and a tough polycarbonate lens tend to have the longest lifespans.
Post Lights
A post light is another product that adds both security and a decorative element to homes and commercial or public properties. The posts, mounts, and the light housings range from simple to ornate and come in designs to match any style, including contemporary, nautical, mission, and Old World. Post lights are ideal along sidewalks, garden paths, driveways, pool areas, and anywhere you want to illuminate in an elegant fashion.
Similar to bollards, you’ll want to choose a heavy duty unit that’s tough and weather resistant, yet another thing to consider is the amount of light pollution a particular post light emits. For instance, any light labeled as complying with the standards set by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is sure to have a minimal amount of light pollution and shouldn’t bother people on neighboring properties. A lot of this depends on the lenses and overall construction of the light, so check that the luminaire directs or reflects light where it’s needed — and not back into the lamp or up at the sky. Not only will this prevent light pollution, it also improves performance and is more energy efficient.
Lights for Energy Savings
With both bollards and post lights, you have a wide range of bulb options, including high pressure sodium, metal halide, compact fluorescent (CFL), and LED. We compared the pros and cons of all types in our earlier Light Fight series, but just in terms of energy consumption and environmental friendliness, LEDs are the clear winner. They last 50,000 hours or more, have no dangerous mercury, and can have as much as 100+ units per watt. In comparison, a CFL’s lumen per watt range averages between 50 and 100, it contains environmentally hazardous mercury, and lasts around 30,000 hours. Lifespans for high pressure sodium and metal halide are even less, and most require far more energy to operate.
Conclusion
Investing in walkway lighting is obviously not without expense, yet that investment pays dividends in terms of keeping visitors safe and enhancing the beauty of your property. Not to mention, if you opt for LED outdoor lighting, you’ll likely reduce your energy consumption and quickly recoup your investment costs.
I like that you state that using solar energy for aesthetic lighting is efficient. My parents want to get some lights for the sides of their backyard walkways. I will send them this information so they can start looking for outdoor solar lighting options.