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Leaps and Bounds In Solar Lighting Technology, But Buyer Beware!

Solar lighting: some people love it, some hate it. And while the naysayers cite "good reasons," their dissatisfaction is not warranted in 2011.

Overall, solar lighting is gaining in popularity, largely due to the "Go Green" movement and rising utility costs. Installing lights without electricians or disrupting landscape sure doesn't hurt either.

So why do some still consider solar lighting inferior to traditional lighting? We're not talking about die-hard eco-friendly folks, who can be willing to sacrifice to help the environment. We're talking people who purchased solar lighting to save electricity or for convenience and were disappointed.

Like many green technologies, solar lighting has evolved dramatically over the past few years, and it continues to move forward. However, not are created equal. For example, this year a neighbor purchased several strings of inexpensive solar Christmas lights at a local discount store. "What a deal," he said. Within a week, he put his old electricity hogs back up.

He made mistakes common to first-time users -- not realizing other lights interfered with "auto-on at dark" features, and improperly placing the panels. Even after these easy fixes, he was unhappy. The under underlying reason: he purchased discontinued lights at a cheap price.

And likely discontinued for good reasons. Most solar lights use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for illumination; floodlights, in particular, also use halogen lights. In the past, LEDs did not provide the same quality or strength of lights as halogens, however, LED technology continually demonstrates leaps and bounds in quality and reliability.

When choosing solar fixtures, make sure the manufacturer uses the latest technologies, and not just for the LED itself. Accent lights are generally fine with an LED alone, but lamp posts and flood/spot lights should incorporate an additional feature, such as a reflector, to intensify illumination.

Another reason solar lighting gets an unnecessary bad rap is inferior housing design that lets in damaging moisture. The lifetime of all lighting fixtures depends greatly on its construction. This is a priority in quality and more expensive quality solar lights, not necessarily so for cheaper models. Small amounts of moisture fog the lens, reducing illumination; larger amounts destroy fixtures completely. LEDs can be particularly vulnerable to moisture, so when selecting solar lighting, look for the words "rust-proof," "weather-proof," or "weather-resistant."

If well-built LEDs were unreliable, they wouldn't be used in traffic lights throughout the US. Car makers wouldn't use them in headlights. Municipalities and automobile companies realize the importance of quality LED technology and housing and make sure it is incorporated into their fixtures.

Eight years ago, we installed solar fixtures in areas impractical to light with electricity. Our satisfaction with the replacements we bought two years ago year is far greater than with the earlier versions. Not only are they more attractive than older models, they provide better light. We didn't choose the cheapest, but the costs were similar to quality electric lights and we see savings every month when opening our electric bill.

About the Author

AM McElroy has 20 years of experience in customer communications and marketing/sales within the financial, high-tech and engineering sectors and recently turned her enthusiasm for solar lighting into an e-commerce site, http://www.SolarFlairLighting.com.

3 yr old Filipino With Intestinal Worms