It’s a new year, and many of us have resolved to finally do what makes us happy. To stop coming up with reasons not to do the things we want. Of course, this time of year also brings many to the crippling realization of just how much they spent over the holidays, and how much they need to save in the new year.
Good lighting, beautiful lighting, new lighting in your home can really work miracles for the space’s look and feel, and even your own well-being. But, when trying to save money, springing for new lights can feel like too much of a luxury. How do you know when it’s worth it?
We’ve put our heads together here at Pegasus Lighting to come up with the 8 best reasons you should say YES! to a lighting upgrade:
1. You’re wasting money.
This reasoning isn’t too hard to figure out. Wasting money on old, energy-sucking lights is worse than saving money on new, energy-saving lights. There may be a little more expense upfront, but new, efficient lights will pay for themselves really quickly. If you switch just 3 of your 60-watt incandescent light bulbs for 12-watt LEDs, you’ll save about $114 every year! To compare more light sources, take a look at this infographic.
2. You have trouble seeing.
If your lights are inadequate, especially in areas where you have to intensely focus on tasks (kitchens, bathrooms, offices) you’re not doing yourself any favors. Eyestrain does not a happy homeowner make. Good lighting in these task areas will make it much easier to focus, and to get things right the first time. Make your work space a healthy one with task lighting essentials like under cabinet lights in the kitchen, or a good desk lamp for reading.
3. You can’t keep up.
Especially if you have light fixtures in hard to reach places, maintaining them can be a huge pain. If you switch out older filament light bulbs that burn out all too often with CFLs or LEDs, you’ll save time replacing them, and money for their replacements. For instance, if you have incandescent light bulbs in recessed cans on a very high ceiling, upgrading to some easy-to-install LED retrofits will mean you won’t have to worry about replacing them for years and years.
4. You don’t feel safe.
Whether you’re renovating with aging in place in mind, or just being smart about your assets, adequate safety lighting is a must for everyone. You should always invest in a few good outdoor lights, like floodlights and step lights to let you see late at night. Prowlers also won’t come near a well lit house, for fear of being spotted. If you live in a storm-prone area, you might want to opt for more than just a flashlight in case the power goes out. Power outage lights on the ceiling, or along steps and hallways will keep your whole family safe and sound.
5. Your lights don’t fit your lifestyle.
Maybe you love reading a chapter in a favorite book before bed, but hate having to get up to turn out the light when you’re ready for dreamland. It might be time to get a bedside reading lamp. Maybe you love taking relaxing baths, but can’t stand that single recessed can above the tub, shining into your eyes. Perhaps you should wire it to a dimmer switch, or even change it out for a waterproof chandelier for ambiance. If your lights are causing you headaches in your day-to-day life, you owe it to yourself to make the change.
6. You’ve resolved to go green.
Being more sustainable is a really popular new year’s resolution. But, if you’re going green while keeping old, inefficient lights in use, you’re not being as green as you could be. According to The Clean Revolution campaign, lighting accounts for about 20% of the world’s energy consumption. LEDs have the potential to reduce that number by up to 80% when coupled with smart lighting controls like dimmers. If the world were to only reduce the amount of energy it uses for lighting by 40%, we would eliminate around 670 million tons of CO2!
7. You’re selling your home.
So you’ve decided to make a huge change this year – to put your house on the market. If you’re planning to leave, you might not see the point in changing out sub-par lights. However, experts advise that bad lighting can be a huge deterrent for potential home buyers. “What is she trying to hide?” they might think, “I could never see myself living in such a gloomy place.” Cheerful, inviting, and efficient light always makes a home look cleaner, newer, and more expensive.
8. You just don’t like your lights.
If you’ve spent years dealing with ugly lights, or lights that just don’t fit your style, it’s time to make a change. Stressing about how to camouflage a hideous pendant light, or deal with the nauseating greenish glow of ancient fluorescent lights just isn’t worth it. Sometimes enough is enough. Ultimately, you have to do what makes you happy.
Are you mulling any new lighting upgrades this month? Do share!