Gardening is quickly becoming one of the most popular “green” hobbies. Consumers are growing some of their own food and creating hospitable environments for the bees, insects and birds that are so remarkably beneficial to our environment. Unfortunately, some gardeners are counteracting their earth-friendly initiatives by introducing electrical lighting into their gardens and landscape. This means that they are using energy resources and reducing the effectiveness of their garden.
Of course there will always be a need for exterior lighting and many dedicated gardeners love to illuminate portions of their yards and gardens after dark. So, the real challenge is finding earth-friendly ways of lighting a garden. Luckily, there are all kinds of solar powered lighting fixtures that can be easily installed throughout an entire property.
Solar lighting fixtures are an ideal “green” solution for the garden for many reasons:
They require no digging, wiring or electrical service to be installed. They can be placed almost anywhere within reach of their solar panels. They are available in a huge range of styles and formats suitable to any garden design. They can be used to illuminate pathways, add whimsical touches to the night time garden, or even serve as security measures in a darkened yard. They consumer no energy and save the planet’s resources.
Let’s take a look at how solar lighting could be used in the garden. Today’s solar lighting fixtures include “tiki” torches that can make a patio or garden a comfortable and well-lit location after dark. They also include more traditional pole fixtures or flood lights that can be placed wherever necessary, for example a flag pole, ornamental bush or entry way can be brightly lit with only a quick and easy solar lighting installation. Flag poles can also be highlighted with solar flag pole lights. Of course, solar lighting can also convert a beautiful day time garden into a magical nighttime place with the use of such things as netting lights that can be placed over shrubs or bushes, terracotta “spheres” that can be used on porches, patios and pathways and single lanterns that can dance gently from a hanging hook.
The amazing number of styles and materials used to make solar lights mean that any style of home or yard will have dozens of fixtures to choose from, and that will match the look of the day and night time space, and all while keeping a garden truly “green”.
Jonathan Gal is a solar lighting expert and owner of YCA Solar Lights, an organization dedicated to promoting clean, energy efficient solar lighting technology. To find out more about how solar technology is changing the way we live, especially with respect to lighting, you are invited to visit Jonathan’s Solar Lighting site.
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