Solar Lighting: How to Affordably Add Beauty to Your Landscape Design

Many people, when trying to choose landscape lighting for their garden décor have a difficult time deciding which way to go. First considerations are what their budget will allow for, while second is what results they are looking for. Today's homeowner has many different challenges ahead of him when he or she is choosing exterior lighting for their landscape. In addition to the cost of the lights themselves, there is always concern that a licensed contractor will be required to do the installation. Today, solar powered lights are a popular substitute and they come with many advantages: they are affordable, safe and easy to install on your own, can be relocated with little effort, and you get a savings on electrical costs.

In the past, most solar lights gave off only a dim light and were not that trustworthy. Today solar powered lights are much different and offer advances in technology including improved circuitry and more efficient batteries. These new solar powered lights are able to function year round in any climate, with very little variation in performance.

In this day and age, if the look desired is minimal lighting with decorative effect, then solar yard lights are an excellent option. This article will look at the advantages of solar lighting, what kind of fixtures you should choose for your landscape, and how to implement them into your design with very little effort.

Advantage

The most obvious advantage to solar yard lights is the cost savings. They are powered by the sun's free energy so they do not draw off of your electrical resources. Thus you save money and in an environmentally friendly fashion as well. As long as the solar panel receives enough light during the day, the lights will run for a very long time at night.

Solar landscape lights have the second advantage of being incredibly easy to install.

They require no wiring or extensive installation so the average person can do it fairly quickly. In the past, solar yard lights have been cost prohibitive, but now due to new manufacturing requirements, they are quite reasonable. What this allows is you get more for your money, and beautiful night lighting for your yard without utilizing electricity.

Fixtures

There are many different kind of solar lights. Solar lights come as tabletop lanterns, solar lighthouse lights, floating lanterns used in pools, spas and ponds, pathway markers, pole lamps used in marking driveways, and even stepping stones and decorative garden sculpture. Outdoor solar lights come in a large range of designs to suit any landscaping or outdoor purpose. Nowadays, almost every kind of outdoor fixture is available as a solar product, so going solar does not mean your choices are limited.

When you are choosing your fixtures for your solar lights, you want to match the light to the function you want it to perform. While many landscapers and garden centers disagree on the exact number of options, there are three main varieties for you to think about: accent, path, and task lighting.

- Accent LightingThe function of the accent light is to add a pleasant glow and to mark a specific place, not necessarily to light a pathway. These carry a low light output but will have longer runtimes than other kinds of solar powered lights. It is not unusual for a good quality accent to run many nights consecutively on a single day's charge. These can be used to mark landscape dangers such as a large rock that can be tripped over; or they can simply be garden features themselves. They can be used as roadway markers or make attractive pool or pond floaters. Because of their low light output and thus less powerful storage batteries, these are going to be the most affordable option.

- Path LightingThese are just as the name implies, solar lights intended to light pathways, walkways, or driveways. They are often used in multiples to guide the way along a set of stairs or walkway. You will typically see these as the stake variety or on hanging hooks. These may or may not have on/off switches, a feature that will allow you to store conserved electrical charge and ensure the longest possible run time. These lights are in the middle range in terms of price and light output. You will see these in finishes such as plastic, copper, cast aluminum, brass, and so on.

- Task LightsBecause these are the brightest lights, they often carry with them the highest price. They are designed to cast a bright beam on plants or entryways. Most of these are designed to be mounted in a number of ways and can be adjusted to shine in any direction. This flexibility adds to their cost as well. The solar panel for the light can also be mounted separately. This will allow you to put the panel where it will get the most sun and light where it is needed.

Solar task lights are the most durable of the solar lights. They are typically weatherproof and UV protected so are more ruggedly constructed.

Technique

The technique you use to light your outdoors is as important as the fixture you choose. The three most popular are called spotlighting, down lighting, and up lighting. Down lighting places a fixture on an object to shine the light downwards - for example putting a light in a tree to shine onto the ground. It carries the same effect as moonlight. Up lighting does the exact opposite. It puts a light onto the ground to shine upwards onto the desired object - for example shining a light from the flower bed up to your house number. Spotlighting generally directs light from the side of an object or plant to create a shadow effect and is just as easy to install.

Overall, solar powered lights are a smart option for the do-it-yourselfer. Another known benefit they have is that as temperatures drop, LED's generate an even brighter light. With this, solar lights are far better than the low voltage outdoor lights that operate less effectively in cold conditions. LED's in solar lights also have a lifespan of over 100,000 hours compared to two to three thousand hours for the average incandescent. Choose the type that meets your budget and your landscape needs, and enjoy outdoor living lit by the free energy of the sun.