Solar lights are popular today. Chances are you know someone who has them and in the right situation they look pretty darn cool. For the more cost-conscious they provide some of the same benefits of electric landscape lighting and there are many benefits to using them. While we at Resort Lighting don’t want to dissuade anyone from using them, we believe that the low-voltage electrical system that we install is far superior. We hope you’ll agree with us but these lights do have their place.
Benefits Of Solar Lights
The most obvious benefit is cost. The cost of purchasing and installing a set of solar lights is nowhere near what it costs to have a professionally installed landscape lighting system. There is no denying it and this does allow many people to have landscape lighting when they wouldn’t normally. There is nothing wrong with that and we hope that when someone wants to upgrade that they will keep us in mind.
Since the lights are also solar powered no electrical hookup is necessary so they are also easier on the power bill and on the environment due to the lack of a carbon footprint. If one goes bad they are also easier to replace, just pick it up and replace it with another one. They do come in packs so you may have a few extras left over anyway.
Solar lights are battery powered in a self-contained system. Some solar lights can last for 10 years or 20,000 hours and just like with electric systems as technology improves that will improve as well. They provide very good bang for the buck.
Where Solar Lights Fall Short
One of the original selling points for solar lights was that they used LED lights. That was a big deal in 2015 but it is not as big of a deal now since many electrical systems also use LED lights. Technology is a wonderful thing isn’t it?
Their brightness can also be an issue. Solar lights do not come anywhere near to the same brightness as an electrical system. They can be fine to light a path, a garden or a walkway but to actually light up an outdoor area they fall far short of what you need. They also tend to produce a blue light rather than the white light that many consumers want for an outdoor space. That might be fine for a garden with a well placed gnome but for an outdoor event after dark they will not get the job done.
At the same time they also require sunlight to provide light. If they are in an area that does not get much sunlight or get covered by something (snow, falling leaves, dirt…) they will not provide much in the way of light and that could be a problem during the winter time when there is more darkness than daylight. Since they are battery powered that battery can also die meaning the entire unit will need to be replaced.
Electric Is The Best
Ask a landscape pro and they will tell you that a low-voltage electrical system is the way to go, especially for an outdoor space like a patio or around a pool. Solar lights may not be able to illuminate an area completely, which could leave obstacles ranging from your child’s toy to an exposed tree root in the dark. Being able to see at night is a big deal, whether you are taking an after-dark swim or having a party.
If you are considering a landscape lighting system then go with an electric system. Not only will they create a better ambiance but electric landscape lighting is a better option for you and your home’s safety. Solar lights will not dissuade a would-be thief the way an electric system can. It also gives you better control over your system through dimmer switches or app controls. When it comes to price, LED lights have made these systems much easier on the wallet and they have become the industry standard.
If you are considering an electric landscape lighting system on Long Island call Resort Lighting first. We can show you what the lighting will look like before we install anything. It will blow away what solar lights can do.
