Solar energy is a wonderful source of electricity. It burns clean with little or no pollution into the atmosphere, and it cuts down on our dependence upon other energy sources such as petroleum. Solar energy is, essentially, the process of turning sunlight into electricity.

Ever since the energy crisis and oil embargo of the 1970’s, people have at various times tried to find alternative sources of energy. Solar power seemed so obvious, if only we could learn how to harness its power in long-lasting, meaningful ways.

The homebuilding industry has been looking into ways to incorporate more environmentally friendly products into houses for many years. Solar lighting has been one of those items that intrigue people. However, there has just been some question as to the usefulness of solar power in the home.

In the case of garden lighting, for many years, solar lights were very limited in their capacity to store and release energy. This resulted in the manufacture of lights that could only provide a minimum of electricity for a very short duration of time. Solar lights were viewed as sufficient along a pathway or in dark corners of the yard, but were never really thought of as solid design elements - not until fairly recently.

A New Technology

New batteries inside the lighting unit can now store electricity generated by the sun for much longer periods of time. This battery output can last twelve hours or more based upon one day’s sunlight accumulation.

Use of LED bulbs in the fixtures, which are five times brighter than standard bulbs, not only burn cleaner, but provide a far superior ability to illuminate. The light from one LED outdoor light can now equal that of a 20-watt lamp.

This has allowed the homebuilding, landscaping, and design industries to take another look at solar lights as design elements.

Easy to Use

Solar lights offer many benefits in terms of their flexibility. There are no wires to be run, no trenches to be dug, no transformer to install, and no permits to obtain. You do not need an electrician to install them.

Placing solar lights really is as easy as taking them out of the box, deciding where to put them, then mounting them with just a bracket and screws.

One of the many beauties of solar lights is the versatility they offer. If you decide to change your landscaping, or when trees and bushes grow over them, you can simply pull them up and reposition them. In as little as a few minutes, you can update your outdoor lighting.

They offer great safety as well. No longer do you need to worry about children getting electrocuted if they dig up wires. Pets and other family members benefit by the enhanced safety solar lights offer.

How Solar Lights Work

There are only a few components that make up a solar light fixture. The outer case, which is usually decorative, surrounds the light bulb. On top of the lighting unit is a solar cell that collects energy from the sun during the day. A small battery in the bottom of the light stores the energy collected from the sun. The battery and light source are connected to a small control board, which is attached to a photoresistor. The photo resistor detects darkness and tells the light when to turn on. Once the light turns on, it will run until it has used all of its stored energy.

The newer power source and brighter lights now mean we will be able to find more ways to incorporate the use of solar energy into our homes and yards.

Solar Effects Outdoors

Until recently, the use of solar lighting for landscape design was very limited. Since the lights could not produce much illumination and would last only a few hours, their inclusion in landscape architecture was almost non-existent.

Recently, however, the market has seen the appearance of solar lights in almost every shape, color, and design. From lanterns and wall-mounted sconces to pillar-top mounts and even spotlights, solar energy is finding its place in the yard.

No matter what your design scheme, solar lights now come in many materials, colors, and styles. Brass carriage lights, metal ground stake lights, sleek ultra-modern spotlights, hanging lights, and deck and step lights all come with solar power.

For those hard to light shady areas, there are now sets complete with a solar panel. All you have to do is ensure the solar panel receives sufficient sunlight, and the garden lights connected to it can be placed anywhere – even in the shade.

Examine Before You Buy

If you have any question as to the effectiveness of solar lighting in your yard, you can view demonstrations at your local home show or home and garden center. Examine the various types of lights and compare their light sources and battery storage systems. The manufacturer or sales associate should be able to tell you how many watts of light and how many hours of use you should be able to expect from a particular solar light.