- 70 to 80 percent less energy
- Lamps rated 40,000+ hours
- Keep sound fixtures and cable
- Consistent 2700K across the yard
Signs Your System Is Ready for an LED Upgrade
Halogen landscape lighting was the standard in Austin through the 2000s and plenty of it is still running. You can usually tell: a few fixtures are dark, the ones that work are slightly different colors, the transformer hums and runs warm, and somebody has to crawl around the beds every spring with a bag of bulbs. A 20-fixture halogen system draws around 700 watts every night; the equivalent LED system draws 100 to 140. LED landscape lighting Austin homeowners switch to today also runs cooler, holds a consistent color and goes 40,000 hours or more between lamp changes.
Austin Landscape Lighting has converted hundreds of older systems since 2020. The work is less dramatic than a new installation and often more satisfying, because the design is already there and the retrofit simply makes it work the way it was meant to.
Two Paths to LED: Retrofit or Replace
Lamp retrofit
If your fixtures are solid brass or copper and the sockets are clean, we keep them and install LED lamps in the same MR16, bi-pin or wedge base. Good LED lamps for landscape use are rated for the heat inside a sealed fixture, available in 2700K with high color rendering and offered in the same beam spreads as the halogens they replace. The fixture looks identical; only the light and the electric bill change.
Fixture replacement
Aluminum and plastic fixtures that have corroded, cracked or lost their lenses are not worth re-lamping. We replace them with brass integrated-LED or lamp-ready fixtures on the existing cable runs. Integrated fixtures seal the LED and driver inside a weatherproof body, which is the most reliable option for Austin's heat and irrigation exposure. Most retrofits end up a mix: keep the sound brass, replace the failed aluminum.
The transformer question
This is the step most do-it-yourself conversions miss. Old magnetic transformers were sized for halogen loads and may now be running at 10 or 15 percent of capacity, which can cause flicker with some LED drivers. Multi-tap transformers that were set to 13 or 14 volts to overcome halogen voltage drop may now overdrive LEDs. We measure the actual load after conversion, reset taps so every fixture sees 11 to 12 volts, and replace transformers that are undersized, oversized or lacking a photocell and timer. The transformer calculator shows how a lower LED load changes sizing. Many clients take the opportunity to add smart control at the same time, since the transformer is being handled anyway.
What the Savings Look Like
| System | Halogen draw | LED draw | Approximate annual energy, 6 hrs/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 fixtures | 350 W | 60 W | 767 kWh vs 131 kWh |
| 20 fixtures | 700 W | 120 W | 1,533 kWh vs 263 kWh |
| 35 fixtures | 1,225 W | 210 W | 2,683 kWh vs 460 kWh |
Those figures assume 35-watt halogens replaced with 6-watt LEDs and are planning estimates, not measurements of your system. Add the cost of halogen bulbs replaced every 2,000 to 4,000 hours, which is roughly every year to eighteen months at six hours a night, and the lamp savings alone usually cover the retrofit within a few years. Our LED savings calculator runs the numbers for your fixture count and electric rate.
Getting the Light Right, Not Just Efficient
An LED retrofit is a chance to fix the design flaws that crept in over the years. We re-aim every fixture, replace mismatched lamps so the whole property is a consistent 2700K, swap beam spreads where a narrow spot ended up on a wide wall, and add glare shields where fixtures have been exposed by plant growth or removal. Lumen output is matched to purpose: 200 to 450 for architectural uplights, 400 to 900 for large trees, 100 to 200 for path lights. Brighter is not the goal; even and warm is.
Connections get attention too. Halogen-era systems were often wired with pierce-point clips that corrode in Austin's caliche soil and irrigation moisture. Dark fixtures are frequently a connection problem rather than a lamp problem, so we remake every connection we touch with waterproof gel-filled connectors.
Austin-Specific Notes
Heat tolerance. Not every LED lamp survives inside a sealed brass fixture in a bed that hits 140 degrees in July. We specify lamps and integrated fixtures rated for high ambient temperature, which is the difference between a 15-year LED and one that fails in its second summer.
Color consistency. Austin limestone and live oak bark look best under 2700K with a high color rendering index. Mixing warehouse-store 3000K and 5000K lamps into an existing system is the most common mistake we are called to correct.
Dark-sky friendly by default. LED lamps let us hit the right light level at lower output than halogen ever could, and better optics keep the beam on the target. Combined with 2700K color and shielding, a retrofitted system is typically far more dark-sky friendly than the halogen system it replaces, which matters in Westlake Hills, Lakeway and Dripping Springs.
Process and Warranty
We start with a free on-site evaluation: fixture count and condition, transformer type and load, cable and connection condition, and a night look at what is working. Your written estimate separates lamp retrofits, fixture replacements and transformer work so you can see exactly where the cost sits. Licensed and insured technicians complete most retrofits in one visit, followed by a night aiming session. Austin Landscape Lighting warrants the workmanship for 2 years, and the LED lamps and fixtures carry manufacturer warranties, typically 5 years or longer on the brass fixtures we install. Planning ranges above are planning figures, not quotes.
Stop Changing Bulbs
The LED landscape lighting Austin homes deserve is warm, consistent, efficient and built to survive our summers. Austin Landscape Lighting will tell you honestly what to keep, what to replace and what it will save. Call +1 (281) 704-7210 or request your free system evaluation today.
Recent led upgrade & retrofit work
LED Upgrade & Retrofit FAQ
Can I keep my existing fixtures and just change the bulbs?
If the fixtures are brass or copper with clean sockets and intact lenses, usually yes. We install LED lamps rated for enclosed landscape fixtures in 2700K and matching beam spreads. Corroded aluminum or cracked plastic fixtures are replaced instead, because a new lamp in a failing body will not last.
Will my old transformer work with LED lamps?
Often, but it needs to be checked. A large magnetic transformer running at a small fraction of its capacity can cause flicker with some drivers, and taps set high for halogen voltage drop can overdrive LEDs. We measure the converted load, reset the taps to 11 to 12 volts at the fixtures and replace the transformer only if necessary.
How much energy does an LED retrofit actually save?
Converting 35-watt halogens to 6-watt LEDs cuts fixture energy by roughly 80 percent. A 20-fixture system at six hours a night drops from about 1,500 kWh a year to under 300 as a planning estimate. Add the halogen bulbs you no longer buy and most retrofits pay for themselves within a few years.
Why are some of my fixtures different colors?
Over the years lamps get replaced one at a time with whatever is on the shelf, so a system ends up with 2700K, 3000K and 4000K lamps mixed together. Halogen lamps also shift color as they age. A retrofit replaces every lamp with matched 2700K LEDs so the whole property reads as one scene again.
How long do landscape LED lamps last in Austin heat?
Quality lamps and integrated fixtures rated for high ambient temperatures are rated for 40,000 to 50,000 hours, which is 18 to 22 years at six hours a night. Lamps not rated for enclosed fixtures in extreme heat can fail in two or three summers, which is why we are selective about what we install.