It is the duty of every individual on the earth to do their part in keeping the planet safe and clean. For some, turning off unneeded lights is their way of "going green". Others show their support for renewable resources by recycling. Many companies pursue environmental projects and use their corporate power to support earth rejuvenation. One neat and environmentally friendly way to pitch in on the eco-friendly effort is solar garden lights. These are something that everyone can enjoy and use as a way to join the green movement.
Solar garden lights are a fun way to light up your yard and cut back on energy usage. These nifty lights are obviously solar-powered, thus the name. The sun shines onto small solar panels (about 1 3/4 square inches) attached on either side of the light and charges the battery connected to the garden light. The light then feeds off the battery, just the same as any other battery-powered device. Not only does this mean you use less electricity, it also means you are not paying as much for your electrical bill. These eco-friendly garden lights come in many different styles.
Solar Home Address Lights
Have you ever driven to a friend's house at night and had to wander around, squinting to see the address from the street? There are solar lights available that can be made to silhouette house numbers. They charge all day in the sun and illuminate all night, guiding travelers to their destination. The light is set in a box, with a nice solid (usually black) lining, and the numbers and cardinal letters set in front of the box with the light bulbs in it. These lights make the house address very easy to see, and are sure to be a welcome sign to visitors and family.
Solar Path Lights
When dusk sets, these little lights are perfect for illuminating paths in the garden or backyard. These solar path lights are sometimes shaped as Narnian-style lanterns hung from hooks, ships' lanterns, or even high-tech security lamps. Taking a stroll in the dimming light of day is extra nice (and maybe even romantic with that special someone) when you are strolling down a pathway lined with glowing solar lights. In addition, the whole time, you are avoiding any electrical usage.
Solar Decorative Lights
Especially popular with little children and the light-hearted, these lights come in animal shapes, like frogs on lily pads, hummingbirds, dragonflies, and butterflies. These friendly backyard animals light up the yard in a variety of fun colors. There are also some of the decorative string lights that are designed as lighthouses, which cast their light out across the backyard just like real ones on the coast. Kids and grandchildren will love playing with the lit-up critters or looking out the window at a lighthouse in the garden.
Solar Fence Lights
These lights are really cool. Designed to look light part of the fence, solar fence lights sit unobtrusively during the day, filling their AA NiCd batteries. At night, they automatically turn on their LED lights, and suddenly the fence has lights positioned along it. These provide nice ambient lighting for outdoor events or simply to light up your domain.
Investing in solar outdoor lights is a good decision on many levels. For one thing, it is a great way to cut back on the electric bill. You can also feel good for doing your part in preserving the world for future generations and finally, you are making one classy looking yard. Whether its path lights or solar Chinese lanterns, when the sky goes dark, your yard will light up and look refined, fun, and classy.
Solar Lanterns Are the Way To Go
Humans have always relied on light to live their lives. Whether it is from the sun, a small fire, or electrical light borne from a flipped switch, light to see by is an important part of human life. Now however, it is possible for humans to decrease the amount of energy used with electrical lights, lengthen the lifespan of the earth, and still have light to see. All this is possible with solar lanterns.
Solar lanterns are beautiful lamps that are powered by the almost-infinite power of the sun. These lanterns collect sunlight all day via their solar panels and then shine that same energy out for the world to see.
Solar powered lanterns work in much the same way as other solar powered devices. The sunlight is collected by the photovoltaic cells of the panel. It is then changed into electrical current and stored in the lantern's battery pack. Once it is turned on, the light feeds off the energy stored in the battery pack to power the lantern.
There are many kinds of beautiful outdoor lanterns that are wonderful to use. The Soji Illume is a simplistic yet classy Chinese-style lantern, made of heavy nylon and looks just a glowing moon. It does not require any cords or wires, and can free-hang from a tree or other object. After collecting sunlight all day, it lights up the night with its luminous effect and looks great as backyard lighting.
Some might think that if a lamp runs off solar power, it would be clunky or unattractive, but the Soji proves otherwise. So does practically every other sun-run lamp, like the Brinkmann Kettle Lantern. Designed as an attractive old-time lantern, these hanging garden lanterns use the sun's light to illuminate garden pathways or stand as sentries around the property's exterior. The lantern turns on automatically, and can be lifted off its hanging pole and used as a table lantern or to light the way before you. There are countless, beautiful lanterns that can be used for gardens and yards, all using solar power collected during the day--at night! It is a true wonder of science that humans can use energy in this way.
Other types of solar powered lights are more practical, like the camping lantern or solar driveway lights. Camping lanterns are known to last up to 25 years, much longer than flashlights. The camping lantern needs to be charged of course, but can also be used to charge other devices, like cell phones or iPods. As long as it is not overcast, your camping trip will be a wild success with one of these environmentally-friendly lanterns.
Everybody pays for the electricity they use. When they wash a load of clothes, they pay for that electricity in their monthly bill. When they run an iPod in their car, it is being powered by the car's battery, which is recharging from the engine, and you pay for the fuel the engine uses. Solar energy, however, is practically free. It is a one-time investment. You buy the solar device, and it collects and collects energy from the sun until it wears out or the sun dies (which is expected to happen in 6,000,000,000 years).
Accordingly, investing in solar-powered devices is an excellent idea. It is an easy way to cut back on the electrical bill, and you can help promote the idea of being environmentally aware. The less electricity used, the less resources are used up creating it in factories, and the better off the earth will be. Even though it is a small step, these solar powered lanterns are part of the fulfillment of that greater goal.
