When homeowners seriously consider using solar energy to power their homes, they often feel intimidated by the price of the solar panels. They may look at cheap ways to use the power to bring light around their homes. One such option is solar landscape lights that will brighten your outdoor space without using any energy source other than the ball of light outside itself – the sun!
It’s important first to consider your landscape. Solar landscape light is so worthwhile because it’s simple to use and friendly to the environment. However, it’s important to look at the pros and cons of solar landscape lighting before spending money on this particular choice.
How Does Solar Power Work in Your Landscape
Think about how solar panels of a home’s roof work – it stores energy, capture it, and turns it into electricity, ensuring the lights and electrical appliances stay on in the home. This is similar to landscape lighting but on a much smaller scale.
There are several forms of solar landscape lighting for you to choose from – floodlights, pathway lights, strands of bulbs, etc. Their commonality? They’re installed with a smaller solar panel that sits on top of the light fixture. They use only a renewable energy source.
Landscape lighting is great for many things:
- Brightens walkways
- Boosting home security
- Lighten outdoor spaces
- Accentuate landscape
- Lower electricity costs (no need for an electrical connection)
It’s why any homeowner with a DIY ability (or not) can enjoy using these in their spaces. But, it’s important to note that not every solar landscape lighting option is worthwhile.
3 Advantages of Using Solar-Powered Landscape Lights
No Reason for Wires
Solar landscape lights get energy from the sun, meaning there’s no need for an electrical connection or wires. Talk about convenience at installation time, but when you’re going to light up areas with no electrical connection, you can still get the lighting you want. You also don’t need to concern yourself with cutting a power source when digging into the ground.
Simple Installation
Solar landscape lights are easy to install and use – no reason for an electrician. You just assemble any pieces together and install them where you’d like the lights to go. Stake the light to the ground or hang it up.
Since it takes some time to collect the energy, testing it out will have to wait several hours.
Lower Utility Expenses
Wired landscape lighting costs you money; solar-powered landscape lighting does not. The savings may be minute initially, but they do add up. On top of that, solar landscape lighting batteries can last up to four years before they must be replaced. This is more than enough time to see a return on your initial investment.
And, as the technology improves, the cost of this lighting option is only going to get more reasonably priced.
2 Disadvantages of Using Solar-Powered Landscape Lights
Sunlight is a Necessity
If solar-powered landscape lights are to work, they must get sunlight. Since the solar panels are usually constructed into the lights, you must have regular light in the area where you’ll be placing them. Do not place them under covered patios, dark corners or other areas where sunlight isn’t well-received.
Unreliable Lighting
Sunlight does not remain consistent throughout the day every day. It’s possible that you’ll get intense lighting one day but a massive thunderstorm the next day that impedes the sun from doing what you need it to do. Once you have no light from the solar landscape light, you must wait until the sun is out to get light from the product again.
Wired lights have more power to them than solar-powered lights, and if you want lighting for safety/security reasons, then you need to consider something more dependable such as an electrical LED light.
