In a time when renewable energy resources are being developed in a world-wide effort to reduce the harmful effects we are having on our planet, solar energy is a very popular resource being captured in many forms to reduce our dependency upon electricity.Solar power is concentrated in four major technologies which are wrestling for dominance in its applications throughout the world. These solar advances include solar thermal, concentrated photovoltaic, Thin-film photo voltaic and crystalline photo voltaic. Each has great potential and certain limitations but their boundaries are widening as their respective technology advances.
As a powerful alternative to our dependence on electricity, the current focus is on solar energy as a great alternative and ultrapure light source for green environments. Solar energy can operate home appliances, music equipment, as well as other devices and fixtures. Most people who think about sunlight do not realize that it can be used for both indoor and outdoor use. By simply incorporating some of the solar-powered lighting technologies available, you will save energy, protect the environment and save money. It’s an absolutely win-win situation, no matter what.
Solar lights are a huge improvement over the bulky low-light products that were sold a few years ago. They come in a variety of styles today, and they are fairly inexpensive, especially when you consider that you eliminate the electrical current to ignite them. Solar lights can be used wherever there is no electricity, and they have access to at least a few hours of sunlight. This makes them especially useful for outdoor areas.
At dusk, your solar lights will begin to emit light as the energy stored in the internal battery throughout the day powers the internal LED lamps in the lighting fixture. Quality solar lights stay bright for 10 hours or longer, illuminating your yard all night long. Once again, after the initial purchase of the luminaire, the outdoor solar lights work for free. As the days get shorter, it’s nice to know that your electricity consumption is not increasing due to outdoor lighting.
The only potential replacement for solar light is solar light batteries. At that time, you can even completely upgrade your fixtures or switch to a different style of solar garden lighting.Overall, most solar lights are very durable and highly resistant to harsh weather conditions. For every homeowner, installing solar landscape lighting is the simplest project you can ever wish for. The hardest part is choosing a location for your solar lighting fixtures. Then you can simply stick the mounting pole into the ground and install the light block. Many solar lighting fixtures can also be mounted on poles or hard surfaces.
Solar energy contains a solar panel that collects energy from the sun and then converts it into energy to make light work. The rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery stores energy. The battery is turned on and off by a sensor that automatically turns on at dusk and turns off at dawn. The LED lamp emits light.
The Growth and Potential of Solar Energy
Although the use of solar light is steadily growing in a global capacity as the eco-friendly benefits and outputs continue to be expressed, it is our own reservations about the potentials of solar power to equate to or surpass our current dependence upon fossil fuels. Our planet is just now scratching the surface of the possibilities available through solar technology developments. The sun provides enough daily energy to supply our needs for power, however solar energy is not yet viewed as a primary energy resource.
Just like you could not harness every raindrop in a storm to gather in a pond, we also can’t possibly collect all of the solar energy emitted by the sun on a daily basis. However, by developing highly efficient and advanced solar plants, we could certainly meet our daily needs for power. With any new technology that contradicts the norm and challenges all of the integrated support systems that exist, it will take a great deal of education to sway the pendulum, in this case towards the further developments of solar energy usage.
Different electric providers, such as TXU Electric, offer solar energy services. Get to enjoy one of the best solar energy plans, including a certain percentage of renewable energy to help protect the planet. They provide a supplemental energy source, as well as incentives. Take advantage of solar energy to prevent running out of power during outage, especially in times of calamities. Talk to an electric provider representative to know your options, or check and compare solar energy plans online.
Selecting the Right Solar Lights
Choosing the best solar lights is a matter of individual style. You can use decorative, traditional, modern or even fancy lighting fixtures. Solar lights are great for decks, patios, pools, walkways, driveways, and gardens. Whatever your preference for sunlight, it shouldn’t be difficult to find the type you enjoy for years to come.
Now that you have made a decision to use solar lights for your landscaping beautification and display needs you are already avoiding many other more difficult potential roadblocks and expenses. By installing traditional lighting you need to worry about proper use of electricity and how to arrange your display according to the electrical considerations.
Selecting solar adds a lot more flexibility to your display options and without having to hire an electrician for a small ransom to make sure that you meet code and to insure the safety of your home Solar lights are becoming very popular in our eco-conscious society and many solar light fixtures are very reasonably priced, typically paying for themselves with ease when considering there will never be a power bill associated with your solar landscape lights. Solar lights are easily installed and offer plenty of flexibility as they can be relocated with ease.
You determine where they are to be set, not your proximity to an outlet. When solar lights first hit the market many years ago they were generally very dim and frankly, not overly reliable. They have advanced remarkably with the development of ultra-bright LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) which have replaced the original filaments bulbs that were traditional to solar fixtures. These LEDs are able to generate substantial amounts of light without emitting heat like their original predecessors. This allows for more efficient operation resulting in a reliable and long-lasting light bulb.
Additional advances in solar lighting include the efficient and cost conscious Photo Voltaic cell (PV Cells). This improved solar technology, with more efficient batteries, can generate light on a year-round basis despite colder weather and shorter days, without sacrificing performance. When you are ready to purchase solar lights remember that they have varying functions and intensities to match multiple purposes. There are three primary outside solar lighting categories to consider: accent lights, pathway lights, and spotlights.
Solar Incentives
Solar incentives are available to homeowners and businesses in a form of tax credit. The federal government provides the investment tax credit (ITC), a solar tax credit, allowing homeowners and businesses to reduce a portion of solar costs from taxes.
Solar credit is a nonrefundable tax credit. You won’t get a tax refund for whatever exceeds the amount of your tax liability. Instead, unused solar tax credits will be carried over to the next tax year.
Takeaway
You’ve just learned that the best outdoor lights are solar lights, saving you money from paying high electric bills. Choose high-quality solar lights with efficient batteries, generating light all throughout the year, without compromising performance.
Indeed, solar energy has already evolved that many electric providers are now offering solar energy installation and services.