If there is one thing the pandemic and the total lockdown brought, it is a surge in the home decor industry. Suddenly, it was all about beautifying their house and making their home the best place to get locked in.
Along with the upscale of home decor, the importance of the environment also became a big deal. Solar lighting systems are the sweet spot between eco-friendly and tasteful decor when it comes to landscape lighting for your driveway, patio, and yard.
Yes, the installation might cost a little, and you have to call for maintenance once a year. So, is it a good idea? In this excerpt below, we are taking a broader view of the matter by judging and arguing both sides.
What Are Solar Landscape Lighting
Solar panels take solar energy throughout the day and convert them into electrical energy. With this, you should be able to operate electrical equipment. Lights are one of them.
However, the brightness of the light will depend on the lumen you are going for. Lumen is a standard solar panel unit that measures brightness. So, if you are looking for solar panels for wall lights, they will be 50 to 100 lumens. On the other hand, lighting an entire pool patio and inside of the pool will take almost 200 to 350 lumens.
Whenever we hear the term solar lights, a bright light driven by solar energy comes to our minds. It is not a wrong vision, but it is one-dimensional. They will require diversity if you want to decorate your entire landscape with solar lights.
- Ground lights for the driveway or garden.
- Waterproof solar lights for the interior of the pool.
- String lights or fairy lights.
- Solar lanterns for patios and gazebos.
- Solar motion sensor lights for security purposes.
Why Choose Solar Lights
So, why should you choose solar lights as a substitute for normal electricity-driven lights?
- You are contributing to cutting down the world’s total carbon footprint by reducing the use of electricity.
- Encouraging others to also opt for these clean and eco-friendly energy sources.
- A step towards eradicating global warming.
- No more blackouts or power cuts. As long as you have sun, you have the luxury of electricity.
- Cuts your electricity bill by a quarter.
Pros & Cons Of Landscape Solar Lighting
The above-mentioned points are just a dip of a toe in the water. There are so many other reasons why you should opt for solar lighting for the landscape. However, we wouldn’t sugarcoat the experience and give you the main pros and cons you should be looking forward to.
Pros
Here are the pros you will enjoy upon installing solar panels for your landscape lighting needs.
1. Easy To Install
If you already have the solar panels which are harnessing the lights, all you need to do is get the solar lights. All there is left to do is place them in their respective places. So, for example, if you want to illuminate your collection of garden gnomes, and want to install solar lights there, then just buy, and place them there.
You might need to fashion something to ensure they remain in their place, like burying a part in the ground or getting decorative equipment to hold the light. However, you need to install a solar panel before getting the lights.
If you get the experts to do so, it will be a matter of days. First, call for the best US solar panel installation experts. Solar panels last almost twenty years, so you wouldn’t have to change them often.
2. You Do Not Need Electrical Wiring
Whenever you are planning to change your entire lighting for a new look, it is the installation of electric lines which is irritating. However, if you get solar lighting, you will not need to call for an electrician and add their cost to the home decor budget.
Just get the lights of your choice, and you should be able to install them yourself.
3. You Are Saving Tons
If you have a big backyard or a long driveway, it is not uncommon to want to feel safe. Having a light source so that you can keep an eye on your landscape at night is important.
However, this ton of lighting can drill a hole through your pocket with the means of an electricity bill. If you want to cut your electricity bills almost to a quarter (at least for the landscape lighting), then go the solar way.
4. Environment Friendly
We have already discussed this before, but to give you a fair idea. According to the world’s electrical power industry estimation of their total electricity usage in a year, electricity is responsible for emitting 10 billion tonnes of CO2.
This data should be enough for you to choose a cleaner way to enjoy the pros of having electricity and not harming the planet.
Cons
No good thing comes without a number of cons. So, here are some of the cons you should be careful about when installing solar panels.
1. Maintenance Is A Big Deal
Once you have these lights installed, especially outdoors, because both the lights and panels will require exposure to sunlight to work properly, you have to maintain them.
Generally, solar lights and panels are long-lasting, but you also have to think about the dirt and debris settling. Once in a while, you have to call the professionals to clean up and check for any damage.
2. Can’t Work Without Sunlight
Solar power generally needs a good amount of sunlight throughout the day. Or else they will not be able to emit the brightness they are meant for. Therefore, solar lights are great for the tropics and near the equator.
But the further north you go, it is not a lucrative installment, especially at the poles where they do not even get enough light for months. Plus, they can be a nuisance in the winter since the sun is not that bright and sets too soon.
A Sustainable Future!
Yes, the cons are concerning, but a little maintenance shouldn’t be a big deal when it comes to saving the environment and your budget. Plus, when it comes to a good solar panel, you should be able to have a strong fifteen hours of charge with just a few hours of exposed sunlight.
So, take a step towards your sustainable future, and choose Solar Light.
