Green Blog

What do you think of when someone says “solar lights”? Quite a few of us will get an image in our head of the old “first generation” solar lights that were really plain looking; with big, bulky solar panels that just screamed “ugly”. It turns out that solar lighting has evolved quite a bit in its technology. Most solar lights now have rechargeable (Ni-cad) batteries built into them that store their charge. The photovoltaic cells (solar cells) are able to gather much more energy from a much smaller design, and the bulbs are usually made from LED’s which use less energy to produce more light. This makes them much more efficient than incandescent or florescent bulbs.

The recent advancements in solar technology have given manufacturers the freedom to design solar lights that vary more and more in design and application. Solar path lights now have the photovoltaic cells, lights and batteries built into one small fixture. Their compact nature makes it possible to simply push the fixture into the ground where ever you want it. For accenting different areas of your garden, solar accent lights are the way to go. They come in many gorgeous designs that will match any decor and are just as easy to install as path lights. If you are looking for security lights, solar security lights are your best bet. Mounting them is fast and easy, and most of them come with a motion sensor that will turn the light on when they sense movement.

Using solar lighting for your home landscaping has many benefits. One big advantage is that they are wireless. Having no wires really makes solar lights simple to install. As long as the location you picked for them has access to adequate sunlight, you are good to go. If not, you can get solar lights that come with an external panel that can be mounted in a nearby, sunny spot. Even then, there is really no wiring - just a single wire from the light to a small panel.

Another big plus is that solar lights require absolutely no maintenance. Once you have them mounted or placed where you need them, you can forget about them and let them do their job. The batteries usually last for the life of the fixtures, as do the bulbs. The fixtures themselves are so inexpensive, that it just makes sense to replace them at the first sign of problems. Solar lights are truly trouble free technology.

I personally believe that the most compelling reason to use solar lighting is that it is a great way to help our environment. We are using up our planet’s resources at an alarming rate. Solar lights are completely “green” and use none of the earth’s natural resources. That means that switching to solar will not only help preserve the planet, but since sun power is free, it will also save you money.

The benefits of using solar lighting are numerous, and we have touched on some of them here. Solar technology will continue to develop, and as it does solar lights will become more efficient and less costly to produce. Here’s to saving money and the planet! Cheers!

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