Mar 28 2009
Solar Garden Lighting
There are many benefits to having outdoor lighting included in your landscape and garden plans. Lighting your garden and yard has many benefits including safety, security and it is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Traditionally, exterior lighting has been hard wired to an electrical source. This typically is not a cheap process as the electrical components must be weather proof due to wind, snow and rain. Additionally, the wires and cords are usually hidden to keep the garden’s appeal pleasant. Again, this involves more labor and thus more cost.
Solar garden lighting solves most of the problems encountered with hard wiring garden lights. They are typically designed to withstand weather conditions and are available in a variety of designs and shapes.
Sunflower Solar Light Photo by Crystal Church
Solar garden lighting usually comes with a built in solar panel on top. During the day this panel collects the sun’s energy and transforms it to power for use at night. Most solar garden lighting fixtures store the energy in rechargeable batteries that then power the lights at night. These batteries will typically last two or three years before needing replaced.
Another type of solar garden light uses a solar panel that may be place near the solar light or if necessary a little distance away from it. The solar panel may or may not be wired to the light. If the solar panel is not wired to the light fixture it must be attached before use in order to provide the power it collected from the sun.
Solar garden lighting uses photocells to detect light and dark. This allows the solar lights to only light up when it is dark, thus eliminating the need for on/off switches or timers.
Solar garden lighting requires very little maintenance other than an occasional cleaning of the solar panel to remove dirt and dust buildup which could prevent optimal capturing of solar power.
Solar garden lighting does not provide the same brightness or intensity as hardwired lighting. It is more of a soft illumination. Grouping solar garden lighting will add more light to an area if needed.
Solar garden lighting is very simple to install. Most often they are either attached to a wall, hug on an outdoor pole or inserted into the ground. Solar garden lights that are for pathway lighting are usually inserted into the ground. Installation is that simple.
The most advantageous aspect of solar garden lighting is in the cost factor. Using solar garden lighting does not require hiring an electrician to overhaul your circuitry and install new outdoor outlets. You are able to do the complete installation yourself.
In addition to installation savings there is the power savings. Once you buy the lights, that is the end of paying for them. There are no power bills to pay, as the sun is proving the energy. You may have to replace batteries every two or three years but that is all. You are also saving the planets natural resources by using solar energy.
Solar garden lighting is a cost effective way of adding ambience to your garden or just providing illumination for safety reasons. Regardless of the reason, going solar helps to save the planet and your budget.
-Sharon Chapman
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