Benefits & Advantages of Outdoor Solar Lights
When it comes to outdoor space, people want to turn it into a special place where they can relax, entertain guests, and have family gatherings. On the other hand, companies want to make safe their parking lots and exterior, as do public areas, like parks and picnic spots.
One of the integral parts of all this is lighting, but out of convenience, many decide to use solar power and opt for green alternatives. The benefits and advantages of outdoor solar lights are not new, yet are constantly trendy. Here’s why!
Solar lights can lower your electricity bill
Solar lights work on solar power. They are equipped with small photovoltaic (PV) panels that turn sunlight into electricity that powers the bulbs. Because of this, you don’t need to plug them in and use electrical energy for them to work, in turn lowering your power bill. When it comes to having an energy-efficient home, solar lights are always among the favorite installations. After all, with them in place, you don’t have to turn off the lights at night to avoid high bills.
They are a cheaper solution
We mentioned that they will make your electricity bills lower, but another plus side of solar lights is no need to install an electrical grid outdoors. This is a big deal since laying underground cables requires digging and making trenches that will destroy the landscape of your outdoor area. Once that is done, you need to put everything back as it were which can cost you a pretty penny.
With solar lights, all you have to do is hang them from above, mount them on a surface, or stick them on the ground. No need to hire a handyman, pay for construction works, and landscaping, and get permits to expand the electrical grid since you can install them yourself.
It’s an eco-friendly option for your outdoors
Solar lights are equipped with LED bulbs that produce no heat and don’t warm up the environment. You don’t have to destroy your landscape design to install them and even use them among the plants since they are not a fire hazard. Moreover, all power is naturally produced and stored in the battery. To be even greener, you can buy models made from recycled materials and completely switch to outdoor solar lights.
Read also: Eco-Friendly & Green Home Cleaning
You can place them almost anywhere
When it comes to installing garden solar lights, you have lots of options when it comes to styles, types, and commodities. Fairy lights on the bushes will give them a festive appearance while hanging string lights on the branches will create ideal ambient for evenings outside. Jar lights on the porch table or lanterns hung from the roof edge are not only convenient but also a decorative statement.
Unless you mount solar lights on the façade or attach them to the ground, you can easily take them from one place to another. This gives you the flexibility to charge them in the sun during the day and place them where you want them at night in just a few minutes.
Solar lights can work all night
One of the biggest issues when it comes to outdoor space is safety. The area needs to be well illuminated so that no one will get idea to trespass or to prevent accidents, like tripping and falling. You can still use lights activated by a motion detector since those won’t spend a lot of electricity, but pairing them with solar lights may be the best choice. Their advantage to keep them on the whole night will ensure your property is well-lit and secured.
Their glow sets a special mood
Outdoor solar lights come in different brightness options and you can decide on the one that will set the best mood. For example, if you are having a party in the yard, you may want to use soft and warm lights to create an intimate atmosphere. For walkways, it’s best to opt for brighter and white illumination so everyone can see where they are going.
Dimly lit pergola with solar lanterns and overhead lights will make a relaxing setting to meditate or rest before going to sleep. You can even choose different bulb colors that will go well with exterior décor, like a baby-blue lantern by the pool to highlight the serenity of water.
You can take them anywhere with you
We talked about how solar lights can be moved from place to place, but you can also take them with you. During a camping trip or a weekend getaway in nature, solar lamps and flashlights can serve as the main or auxiliary source of light.
They are also good to have in case of emergency in the car but make sure to keep them by the windows during the day to recharge. While it’s always good to have a standard flashlight powered by alkaline batteries, solar ones can come in handy if those unexpectedly stopped working.
They are easy to replace
It’s fairly certain that after a while you will want to change the exterior design and that means the lighting as well. Solar lights will only cost you the price of the lamps you will buy, making them easy to replace whenever you want. Furthermore, instead of throwing away the old ones, you can sell them and finance the new and improved outdoor solar lights, so you will barely make a dent in your budget.
Outdoor solar lights are low maintenance
Solar lights use LED bulbs which are known to have a lifespan of over 20 years. The panels that turn solar energy into electricity know when it’s day and keep the lights off. During the night, it recognizes that charging has stopped and turns the lights on.
The battery can last for five to seven years, so you should change it right about that time. Add to that cleaning and inspection of the whole fixture during that time, and you are done with maintenance. Especially since if positioned at a 45-degree angle, the rain will clean the lamps for you.
In conclusion
The benefits and advantages of outdoor solar lights are always present, regardless of what you use them for. Lower electricity bills, easy installation, and flexibility are some of the top reasons people opt for this eco-friendly illumination. Moreover, you don’t have to dig up your yard to power them up. All you need is a sunny spot or at least one exposed to the sky since solar lamps can also charge on cloudy days.
