3 Steps to Help You Find Out if Solar Lighting is Right for You

Solar lighting systems provide a great alternative to traditional electrical lights. The systems can be installed anywhere as long as the solar panel has direct access to sunlight from 9 am to 4 pm. Here are three easy steps to see if solar lighting systems are your best alternative for lighting just about anything.

1. Is there electricity already available?

There may or may not be electricity already available in the area needing to be illuminated. If there is electrical, great, then you have two options, solar or electrical lighting. During the initial design phases of a project, solar can be a great alternative to standard grid-tied lighting. However, after the project is installed, it is challenging to go back and change to solar as the costs are higher and do not provide a quick return on investment.

However, if there is no electricity available, then the cost of trenching and adding the needed electricity should be considered when looking at the cost difference between solar and electrical lights. Don’t forget monthly electrical costs as well. All these costs add up and can make solar have a speedy return on investment, sometimes even an immediate ROI since the cost of solar can be less than the trenching, installation, wiring, and energy bills.

Solar lights, because of their nature, can be installed anywhere. The solar panel must have direct access to sunlight, but the lights can be placed just about anywhere. For example, if the light needs to be installed in a shaded area, the solar can be installed on a separate pole in a nice sunny spot. The cost of trenching and bringing electricity out to some sites can be very costly, and solar is a great alternative to unnecessary expenses.

2. What are the required lighting levels?

In today¡¯s industry, lighting can be a faint glow just for mood or bright enough to read the newspaper under, and all types of lighting can range from one end of the spectrum to the other. For example, I have solar LED strand lights on my back porch powered by solar that provide just a soft, warm glow for the atmosphere. You definitely couldn¡¯t read a book under them, but they provide just enough light that you can see the area.

Other applications can be for street or parking lot lighting. For example, solar lights can be a great alternative in replacing already installed lights for a lower overall electric bill or installed in a new application where a green alternative is high on the list. Many design elements go into these types of applications; see Solar Power Street Light Design: Step by Step and Solar Parking Lot Lighting Design: Step by Step for more information on these systems.

No matter the lighting level requirements, there is usually a solar option. Solar typically ranges out at around 80-100 Watts if dusk to dawn operation is required. If less operation is required, the lights can increase in output. Remember, there is a huge difference between Lumens and Watts, and understanding this is key to understanding lighting.

3. Are you looking for a green alternative?

Some installations are looking to acquire LEED points, some are just looking to showcase their green initiative, and some are just conscious about what they are installing for their project. But, no matter what the choice is, solar is a great alternative to traditional electricity.

The solar option is also great because all the equipment is designed to have little to no maintenance. Since there are no moving parts, the various components last a long time after installation. The only maintenance a SEPCO solar lighting system requires is a battery change every five to seven years. Some smaller units may require battery changes more often. Don¡¯t forget to recycle those batteries when you do replace them.

Finally, solar lights provide a green alternative to traditional lighting applications. Solar lights are separate from the grid, produce no greenhouse gases, and provide lighting even if the electricity fails for any reason. Without reliance on the grid, you can be more self-sufficient and have a more reliable system.

So next time you are in the market looking for lighting options, look at going with a solar lighting system. From commercial applications such as parking lots, roadways, and signs; to smaller applications like gardens, driveways, and atmospheric lighting, solar provides a great alternative.