Outdoor lighting: is it expensive to operate?
Quick answer: it depends, but usually it’s very economical.
There are a lot of variables in this equation. The number of lights installed on your property, the types of bulbs in each fixture, the amount of time the lights are on each night, and the cost of electricity in your area all impact the cost of operating outdoor lights.
The good news is that regardless of the variables, operating outdoor lighting is usually quite affordable.
Virtually all outdoor lighting that is installed these days uses energy-efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs.
In San Diego County, the electricity rate structure is complex (and electricity is VERY expensive in San Diego, even by California standards) but for the purposes of this discussion, we’re going to say that – on average – electricity is $0.40 per kilowatt hour. The “tier one” residential rate from SDG&E is actually $0.38 per kilowatt hour. Our Colorado clients have rates that are roughly 1/3 of San Diego’s rates!
Next, let’s assume that you have 20 lights on your property. (That’s quite a few! While we do many installations with far more lights, 20 lights is a reasonable average for the homes that Dazzle Lighting Co tends to work on.)
Also, let’s assume that those lights have 4 watt bulbs. (some are higher, some a lower)
Finally, we’ll assume that the lights are on for 6 hours per night. You might program your lights to be on for more or less time, but 6 hours is fairly typical.
So let’s get our calculators out and do some math:
4 watts X 20 lights = 80 watts per hour
Multiply 80 watts per hour by 6 hours per night = 480 watts per night
365 days per year X 480 watts per night = 175,200 watts per year
175,200 = 175.2 kilowatt hours
175.2 kWh x $0.40 = $70.08 per year
Less than $6 per month!!! That’s all??? About $0.25 per day is certainly a reasonable expense to beautify your property and extend the usability and enjoyment of your outdoor spaces.
Get in touch with Dazzle Lighting Co to discuss a lighting design, and together we can figure out the exact numbers for your property.