Solar lights have increased vastly over the years. Its popularity has grown as we continue to contend with the high cost of heating and cooling our homes. Companies are finding sustainable ways to reduce the cost of bringing energy into our homes and businesses. In the long run it means the consumers gets a product that cost less and is just as efficient and effective as the traditional methods used in the past.
As the population increases, and the consumption is on a high demand the introduction of using solar energy is being replace by the old methods of a complete dependency on a grid. Our environment has changed over the years, and we now have concerns on the dangers and possibilities of attacks or disruptions of the grid. This would cause a great loss to the economy and to individual households. A recent hurricane in Cuba caused the national grid to collapse and left the nation in darkness. A loss to the country’s economy and to its tourist industry during that time period. This is the potential of what happens when grids are aging and need replacement with newer and more modern systems.
Choosing to engage in a solar system is a way to avoid total dependence on one solution and become self-sustainable. This means you will be able to function without the assistance of the grid and incur minimal loss to you and your household in the event that an unfortunate circumstance should occur and there is no electricity. We will look at the some simple methods of sustainable solar energy solutions and examine the benefits and how you can implement these ideas to reduce your expenses.
What is Solar Energy
Solar energy is the ability to capture the sun’s rays by harvesting it and converting it into either thermal energy or electrical energy. Thermal energy involves the transferral of heat which allows various equipment to work effectively. Electrical energy involves the movement of electrons that flows through a conductor providing you with electricity that is used to power systems from household appliances to large commercial equipments.
Solar Powered Lights
A solar powered lighting system extracts the sunlight through solar cells and stores this energy for a future use. As the sun sets and darkness is prevalent the solar energy begins its function from the stored energy to create light. It becomes a cheap way of producing light. These lights are found in many varieties to suit your own personal needs. Small ones are usually visible at the entrances to walkways.
Spotlights are important as a preventative measure that will deter any intruders from entering your home. If you love to entertain use the festive ones for those special occasions. Floodlights creates the brightness and makes the home transformed into a well-lit area for your own protection. The solar motion lights are useful because it does not stay continually lit unless someone is in its path. Then it will display the light at that moment. If you enjoy your patio at nighttime one of the best ways to appreciate its ambiance is with warm colours of blue or purple and also for your own safety place them especially around steps. Your garden is also another place that can be highlighted by introducing lights that are in a variety of shapes.
One of the most interesting shapes I saw was a garden light featuring a child holding a hose and watering the garden. It was all lights flowing into the garden. It was really beautiful and created such an attractive, serene look. Solar lanterns allow the homeowner to install these lights anywhere and can be hung on post or as a stand alone light. They are convenient and this eliminates the need to use a contractor which would otherwise be costly to complete this job. If you have a pool at home these lights can be installed, and they are also submersible. A most definite enhancement for the pool area by allowing it to have that beautiful glow making the area aesthetically lovely.
The Advantage in Using Solar Lights
Expected your energy cost to be reduced due to your participation in renewable energy consumption. With everyone now aware of our environmental concerns and the need to participate in conservation. It is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint. Especially in seasons of Christmas where everyone uses lights to enhance their property or even having backyard parties. There will be a substantial savings on the energy usage.
As these light are dependent on the sun there is no need to hire a contractor to get the job done. The method of installing is easier and will be up and running once the lights have harnessed enough power from the sunlight. They are also very versatile and can be installed anywhere as long where there is sunlight. There is no need to disrupt the previous electrical devices or digging into the foundation of the home. There is very little chance of having issues with electrical shock or electrical wiring that will need to be replaced.
Solar lights prevent total dependence on one system for energy but gives us an alternative remedy and saves us money as a sustainable solution. In the event of a storm or hurricane, solar energy allows for an alternative way to avoid total loss of perishable food. It also provides a method for the grid to be less burdened while providing the service expected or become overwhelmed with too many people consuming excessive energy simultaneously avoiding situations that can cause power cuts. We will look at the some varieties of solar lights now available in making decisions on your purchases suitable to your own lifestyle.
Variations of Solar-Powered Lights
You will find a variations of these lights from outdoor, lamps, flood lights to decorative. The small lights are usually used for gardens, walkways and pathways . They are usually not extremely bright and gives the pathway or walkway with just enough light with enough visibility to highlight the path making it easy to walk on that path. They are affordable and the easy installation makes them a good choice. Generally used by many homeowners as it add ambiance to the area and has a soft glow.
Solar spotlights give a much brighter light and showcases the area with a bright light. Mostly used in landscapes and they have the ability to change in a variety of colours. A good choice to be used especially during the Christmas season and you may wish to highlight a tree or plant to enhance your garden. They are also have an adjustable beam.
Solar motion sensor light is one that can be used as a preventative measure against intruders for your home. I like this feature because it will only be triggered by motion. In some situations, it is possible that you may have unintentionally stayed later than expected and have forgotten to leave the exterior lights on for your home. These prevents you from stumbling in the dark to find your keys to get in your home as the motion will automatically turn on and prevent these issues.
Deck or steps lights these lights are essential for the steps, deck and patio areas. They can be found in beautiful colours and generally used mainly for beauty more importantly safety on the steps and dark areas. Great for use on patios, decks or gazebos. They are obtainable in beautiful designs and colours and used mainly for elegance and make the area stand out. You can add your preferred colours or enhance the space with some creativity by highlighting plants or railings to create the look you wish to achieve.
Garden lights a great place to showcase your garden making it stand out with unique designs that are available. There is always the option to use the seasons and include the lights with this theme by using seasonal displays to create a difference.
Solar lanterns can be featured anywhere. It does not require a contractor to do any installation. They can be hung or placed as a stand-alone. They can be placed on patios, porches, or used in pool areas and backyards and works great as a night light if that is your preferred choice.
Post cap light is best used on fences, decks and also railings. It gives the backyard fence its uniqueness. It can also be used on decks. It also creates light for those unwanted animals and can work as deterrent for them.
Solar pool lights enhance the pool area at nights and gives it that beautiful glow which are available in many colours like blue, green, purple and other colours. What makes them efficient is they are fully submersible. Add some creativity with water features area like a pond or waterfall area. This will work beautifully in these areas. This will certainly make your backyard stand out with the combination of different lights. You can also add lanterns featured in the areas where there are plants or flood lights which feature different colours.
Choosing the Right Solar Light
One of the ways to choose the light that will be best for your situation is to determine the purpose for which the lights will be used. If you are purchasing it for decorative uses some lights will be eliminated like those for security and motion. Or if it is for functionality then choose what fits your needs and that your criteria has been met. Once this decision has been made, it is time to set the budget on how much you are willing to spend. The prices will vary based on the brightness that will be determined on the quality of the lumens or LED. Some battery capacity will last longer than others.
An important factor is to check for the durability on the product. A good way to determine this is others who have bought the product will generally leave a review and that can give you some information. Or purchase the product for a time period and check the stores return policy to see if they will be willing to take the product back if you are not satisfied. If you live in areas of extreme weather conditions, it is good to check the manufacture information about weather proofing. Some manufactures do have a good reputation with respect to their product and this may help you to decide on buying certain brands as opposed to others.
If your concern is security, then you should be looking at motion detectors or flood lights in areas that have poor light. Also, making sure that the light has enough brightness for your own security. For purchases as aesthetic, your concern is generally durability and making sure they are weather proofed for outdoors.
Planning your Installation
One of the best ways to obtain the best performance of your solar light is to create the best layout for their placement. Find the area that generates the most sunlight during the daytime and capitalize on that. Avoid areas that have a lot of shade from trees or shrubs or anything that can create an obstructed view of the sunshine. Follow the manufactures instructions for the installation and make sure they are securely placed. Any product will need to be tested to make sure it is functioning well. It could take a bit of time to make sure it is in the correct location and is performing to its full capacity.
Creative Ways to Use Solar Lights
During the Christmas season lights are everywhere and most homes go all out to make their place looking special for the season. This usage generally increases your electricity consumption. A good way to reduce your energy usage is to use solar lights as your featured décor. There is a vast amount of decorations that are just as beautiful and can provide a much more effective means to celebrate the season at a lower cost. The fairy string lights are great to use and highlight small shrubs, pathways, balconies, railings and steps. You can also be creative and make your own lanterns and hang or place them in areas where they are needed most.
If you enjoy camping this is the best way to have your camper lit without being fearful of what is out there in the unknown. These lights will provide enough light to make the area feel much safer. The advantage in using the solar lighting system is you are unaffected if there is a power cut at any time as home will always have light.
Solar Energy Benefits the Environment
Realizing that the initial upfront cost to completely switch to solar energy entirely can be expensive and needs some research and thought process if this is affordable to you. This can be a deterrent to many people. Looking at the benefits to the environment and realizing that our traditional method of extracting electricity is either from natural gas, hydroelectricity and coal. Coal generated electricity is associated with carbon emissions and is very unhealthy for the environment. In comparison to solar energy which removes the dependence on fossil fuel and is a much cleaner method to produce electricity naturally without harming the environment is a much better way.
During the summer months where the weather can produce extreme heat, and our consumption usage is increased. The grid has to work much harder to produce massive amounts of electricity for everyone who has turned their air conditions to a maximum. We are sometimes requested to keep our consumption lower to accommodate the grid. With the solar panels you are unaffected.
There are times when they have used a period of black out just to keep things running effectively and this becomes an inconvenience for homes that have perishable food which will eventually become a loss to the homeowner.
If your home cannot be converted fully to a solar lighting system. Taking small steps by implementing some solutions to your home that will make a difference. Transitioning to solar lighting means taking a responsible step towards sustainable living and a justifiable means to keep the environment healthy. With our ability to harness the sun’s rays and converting it into solar energy it means less dependence on sources like coal, natural gas and oil. Eventually this leads to a reduction of our carbon footprint.
The price of energy has can fluctuate and result in higher cost to users which depends on the demand. As a result, it is difficult to predict how much higher the percentage will be at the end of each period. Changing to solar will eliminate this fluctuation and will be beneficial as this frequent change will be avoided. Homes that are located in remote places can take advantage of solar energy and avoid disruption of services especially in severe weather conditions.
The solar advantage moves the homeowner to embrace modern sustainable technology to become more adaptable to various climate changes and the preservation of natural resources. It removes the dependence on the antiquated practices and allows us to embrace the changes. More importantly it is reliable, creates a better environment and a great investment into renewable and sustainable solution for our future.
Solar garden light: Image created using AI assistance via ChatGPT by OpenAI