Are solar lights a good investment for your outdoor lighting needs?
With their low cost and environmental benefits, solar lights are becoming increasingly popular as a sustainable alternative to traditional lighting.
In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of solar lights, and help you decide if they’re worth it for your home or business.
Are solar lights worth it?
Yes, of course, solar lights are worth your money. Solar lights are an eco-friendly and cost-effective investment to light up your outdoor spaces.
They use solar energy to light up your spaces by enhancing their natural beauty. You do not need to worry about complex wirings and external power sources.
The most important thing is they do not require any ongoing costs for electricity.
But you have to make sure your home area receives the optimum amount of sunlight for the efficient use of solar light.
As well as you need to decide before purchasing the type of solar light you need for your garden.
Do solar lights are more efficient than traditional lights?
The research from Libya mentioned that high-pressure sodium lamp systems replaced with solar-powered street lighting systems save 75% of energy and reduce CO2 emissions by 75% rather than traditional lighting systems.
Another study was conducted by Pakistan in 2016 by replacing 250W high-pressure sodium light with solar-powered light.
They emphasized that solar-powered LED lighting systems in street lighting systems can save more than 75 million rupees in 25 years and more than 13 metric tons of carbon emissions.
The study from Lebanon revealed that the solar power lighting system has less environmental effect rather than the traditional grid-connected street lighting system in both landfilling and recycling phases.
The study from Dubai United Arab Emirates emphasized that the proposed hybrid solar lighting system model for small houses is easy to install and electricity is required.
The study was conducted in India by introducing solar PV home systems for electricity-lacking rural villages.
Here they mentioned that solar home-lighting systems can influence the life of people very significantly better. Especially women and children benefiting more from their household and education works.
The abundant sunlight availability in those areas this model will more suitable for small houses.
Thousands of studies were conducted worldwide for evaluating the performance, cost –benefits, and environmental impact of solar-powered lighting systems.
Among them, most of the studies emphasized that solar-powered systems are more efficient than traditional lighting systems.
What are the Pros and Cons of solar lights?
| Pros | Cons |
| Solar lights are self-sufficient and can function independently of an external power source | Some solar lights may not work as well in areas with limited sunlight. |
| They are easy to install and maintain | The initial cost of purchasing solar lights can be higher than traditional lighting sources. |
| Solar lights do not require any ongoing electricity costs | The battery life of solar lights may be limited and need frequent replacement. |
| Solar lights are environmentally friendly as they utilize renewable energy | The lumen output of some solar lights may be lower than traditional lighting options. |
| Solar lights come up in a variety of styles and designs that can be used for multiple purposes | Durability is an issue for some solar lights which may not withstand extreme weather conditions. |
| They are ideal for remote areas where electricity may not be easily accessible | Some solar lights may not have motion detection or other sophisticated features. |
| Solar lights can be used to enhance the overall aesthetic of the outdoor environment. | Some solar lights may not be as shine bright as traditional lighting options. |
How long solar light will last?
The life of solar light may be varied according to different factors such as materials quality, the type of solar light you purchased, and also the amount of solar radiation received from the solar light.
In general, the solar light will have a life of 2-5 years. The high-quality solar light also has an extended lifespan of 10 years.
The solar light’s life span will depend on the battery’s life span because it is more crucial for light’s lifespan.
Your battery consists of high-quality materials then it will last several years. But the low-quality batteries will need to replace frequently.
The lifespan of solar lights will be increased due to proper maintenance and installation. You can regularly clean up your solar lights and make sure solar panels can receive bright sunlight for functioning properly.
Final Thoughts
Solar lights are worth it for their eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional lighting sources. You can experience their real benefits when you use solar lights to light up your spaces. But make sure to consider product quality before purchasing your solar lights. Otherwise, you have to end up with a mess.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.