Pros & Cons of Using Solar-Powered Outdoor Garden Lights
For urban setups, a lot of homeowners these days have started to opt for the installation of solar powered outdoor lighting instead of conventionally lit garden lights. The reasons are simple: they are eco-friendly and cost-effective. With energy demands creeping up around the globe, the environment has taken a severe hit. So, it is imperative to find a balance between meeting those requirements and keeping a check on the harm being caused to nature in the name of power generation. Solar powered equipment has been on the market for a long time but thanks to an increasing number of people showing an interest in owning solar powered lights, garden and outdoor lighting have become trendy lately.
Solar garden lighting ranges from mains powered to battery operated. Not only are they light on your pocket and easy on the environment, but they also fit in extremely well with the aesthetic of the house. Outdoor lights powered by the sun charge up during the day and store that energy in the batteries which are used to light the surroundings during the night. Before choosing the option of buying solar garden lights, it is important to have a look at the pros and cons and ensure that you understand everything this technology has to offer.
PROS
Cost-effectiveness
Solar lights cost nothing to operate! If you are troubled by the high electricity bill that has been taking a significant chunk out of your wallet, you’d be surprised to know that solar powered outdoor lighting pays for itself in the longer run. Having said that, the initial set-up cost is on the higher end, but the equipment used is state of the art. And this investment is recovered multiple times as you end up paying nothing, in the long run, to keep running these solar lights.
Convenience
Since these outdoor lights are powered by the sun, they charge up directly and have an automatic turning-off feature as the sun sets. There is no need for a human to manually interfere to turn them on at the dawn or turn them off at the dusk. The energy is stored in the batteries and this juice is used by the solar-powered garden lights as and when required.
Nature Friendly
The primary reason why solar power was introduced was to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As opposed to their conventional alternatives, solar lights do not emit pollutants, do not require elements such as mercury or lead that cause severe damage to the environment, and have a direct and positive effect in helping to preserve the environment. They are sustainable and a green alternative to the traditionally powered lights for your garden.
CONS
Maintenance & Repairing
Solar equipment demands regular maintenance and wiping down to ensure its high efficiency. Dust, moisture, and garden debris have been known to lower their performance, and thus, despite solar LED bulbs having a service life of up to 20,000 hours it is crucial to provide them with frequent upkeep. Owing to the sophisticated technology that goes into the manufacturing of these lights, the repairing costs of solar garden lighting are on the higher end. So, if the system breaks down for any reason, an engineer is usually sent by the manufacturer to diagnose and fix the issue. This usually ends up becoming a costly affair.
Brightness
The biggest criticism of solar powered lights is that they are usually not as bright as their traditional alternatives. Studies show that an average solar path light produces brightness equivalent to a 40-watt light bulb. If one has to go for brighter lights, they will have to shell out extra money. Another criticism is that they offer a blue hue which may not fit with a lot of outdoor settings.
Weather Dependent
For people living in cities that usually do not receive much sun or have overcast weather, solar outdoor lighting can take longer to charge up. This can be fixed by getting a larger charging panel but then it will add up to the cost of installation. The charging ability is also hampered by seasonal changes. Heavy storms and cyclones have been known to damage solar panels. So, it becomes extremely difficult to have solar lights in places with tricky weather conditions.
At Homesmiths, we offer a huge array of solar garden lighting options, right from simple garden lights to fancier LED stake lights. All you need to do is browse through the plethora of choices and pick the one that rightly fits your outdoor garden needs!
Source: https://www.homesmiths.ae/blog/post/pros-and-cons-of-using-solar-powered-outdoor-garden-lights
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