The Solar Home Lighting System
Solar lights come in several forms, some that you may not have considered. Although not every application of solar light is immediately feasible for most of us, we shouldn’t be completely put off by the idea of considering them as options for the future. When we sit back and calculate the monetary cost of using our lights over the period of our bill-paying life, what may seem to be a considerable initial investment is quickly reduced to what is ultimately a cheaper way to light our homes and businesses.
Using solar lights in the outdoors is probably something that most of us have considered, and in all likelihood many of us are already enjoying; however, I’m willing to wager that most of us haven’t thought about using solar lights inside our homes – interior solar lighting. Now I know that might sound a little bit unusual … I mean, who’s going to yank their lights out of the garden and bring them inside to illuminate the living room for a night in front of the TV, right? Well, there are definitely options that will allow you to leave your exterior lights where they are and still enjoy the benefits of solar light inside!
Up for consideration: a solar home lighting system. These systems use solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity which is then stored in batteries – very similar to an exterior solar light, but on a larger scale. Solar light systems like this are ideal for those who live in rural areas, for those who have a summer cottage retreat that is off the grid, or for those who wish to be proactive in helping to reduce energy consumption. Overall, I’d say that that interior solar lighting is ideal for anyone who requires light in the home! Seeing as no “electricity” is required for this lighting system to function, it also makes for a perfect emergency lighting system.
The anatomy of this solar lighting system consists of a solar cell module, a charge controller, battery and a lighting system. The solar cell modules are typically installed outdoors on the roof, or on a deck, in a place where they’ll be exposed to ample sunlight, while the controller and battery are installed inside the house where they are protected from the elements. Overall, it’s quite a simple set-up that will allow you to power your lights from this solar energy source. Solar home lighting systems are designed mainly for homes; however, these systems can also be applied in industrial, commercial, and farming applications. Imagine if Times Square, Las Vegas, or Disney World implemented a solar supplement to help off-set the amount of electricity used? That would have a considerable impact on energy consumption in the US.
As I see it, we all basically have a few choices when it comes to lighting. We can opt to turn them all on, turn them all off, turn on only one as we need it and turn it off when we’re done … or we can make an investment in solar lights and leave them on as long as we like at no cost to anything or anyone. If a home solar lighting system isn’t for you, then perhaps consider using just one light at a time where needed, and light your outdoors with solar lights.