With the explosion of solar energy
use throughout the world, it would make sense that people are using the
renewable energy in more ways ever before. While some scientists are making remarkable
strides using solar energy, there are new and untapped ways you can use it in
your own home. For example: the lights.
We use solar energy to heat our
homes, why not use solar energy to light them as well? That’s right; you can
use solar energy for lighting the same way you use it to obtain heat.
Not only is switching to solar
lighting an excuse to re-decorate an outdated room (or the whole house), but it’s
a cost-effective way to light your home while saving money.
If you’re looking to start a major
home-wide overhaul of your lighting system, start outside. A great way to use
solar energy lighting is along pathways and around tables and chairs in your
yards. This can allow you to get the most out of the exterior of your home by hosting
parties or eating dinner outside even if the sun has already gone down. Not
only will you be saving money from using solar light bulbs, but you’ll
essentially be adding another room to your home in which you can entertain and
relax.
Moving inside, take a tour of your
own home and actually see how many bulbs you use every day, some all day. Few
people realize how many bulbs, lamps, or chandeliers they use on a day –to-day
basis until they stop and count them up. Lighting a home takes a number of
products, and the more you add to your home, the higher your electricity bill
will be.
What could be even better than
saving money? Perhaps how easy it is to make the switch to solar lighting. For
your lamps and anything else requiring bulbs you can replace yourself, all that
is required is a trip to the local hardware store to pick up some renewable
bulbs.
For built in lighting that you can’t
change yourself, this will require help. Like any system you buy for your home,
some lighting needs to be installed by a professional. The installation fee
will likely be the most money you spend in your switch to solar lighting. Once
it’s all complete, you’ll make your money back in no time with the energy you
will undoubtedly save.
How exactly should you use solar
lighting? It can be used in a number of different ways, exactly the same way as
standard lighting. For more expressive or artful lighting techniques, explore
silhouette and mirroring effects, up lighting… the possibilities are endless!
Keep in mind that even converting just a couple of lamps
at a time to solar energy-based lights will help reduce your energy bill. You
don’t need to completely remodel your home in order to see results, so what are
you waiting for? It’s time to make an easy switch in your home and in your
life!