Solar Powered Outdoor Lights: What to Consider

Solar powered outdoor lighting has been on the market for a long time, but only keeps getting better and more affordable. As demand for eco-friendly upgrades and lifestyle changes continues to grow, so do the options available. It is easy to find solar lights in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles to fit the specific need and aesthetic of your home exterior.

If you’re trying to decide if solar outdoor lighting is right for you, here are some important things to consider:

Energy efficiency is the key advantage to solar powered lights. By harnessing the power of the sun—a virtually inexhaustible resource—these outdoor lights are environmentally friendly and budget-conscious. Standard lighting systems can increase your energy costs and consumption and come with the added potential cost of professional repair in the future. With solar lights, there is little to no maintenance, allowing you to save on your energy bills and improve your home’s carbon footprint without an electrician.

Solar lighting systems are less complex when it comes to operation and installation. Even DIY electrical lighting kits have multiple steps and pieces to configure and can also be difficult to scale. Adding more fixtures in the future will inevitably require adding or replacing power sources, which can be time-consuming and expensive. More advanced systems require professional expertise to install, maintain and repair. With most outdoor solar lighting, you simply need to place where desired. If you ever want to adjust or move your solar lights, it’s as simple as picking them up and putting them somewhere else.

It’s important to consider location when looking into solar lights. Solar lights produce fewer lumens (units of brightness) than halogen or LED bulbs, so no matter the size or amount they won’t be as bright as going electric. Another consideration for going solar for your outdoor lighting is that it’s not guaranteed to work in every space. If your yard, deck or porch is mostly shaded, you won’t get the same results as you would when placing solar lights in areas with full sunlight. If you live in a cloudy climate, your solar lights cannot absorb as much light as they would under clear skies. To address this, many solar lighting kits include panels separate from the actual light. This gives you the freedom to place the panels in locations more ideal for energy absorption. However, the need for perfect placement combined with the lower light output might mean a traditional low-voltage lighting system is better for your situation.

While it has several advantages, solar-powered outdoor lighting may not be perfect for your home. With lighting or eco-friendly alternatives of any kind, the choice is yours—and with technology always advancing, the more choices you will have.