Solar panel technology has advanced significantly over the last decade. The modern solar panel is less bulky, more efficient and cheaper. They also last longer. While these systems can be used to power a home, the most popular use is outdoor lighting, particularly street lights. Since solar panels are still costly, there is need to maximize on the available units. The first thing you need to do is throw out those halogen, incandescent and fluorescent lamps and install solar LED lights along your driveway, garden and along the street. Many local authorities have fully embraced the power of solar technology. If you live in a city that receives a lot of sunlight throughout the year, you will notice that most street lights have solar panels and LED lights on top.
What you Need to Know About LEDs
Light emitting diodes are semiconductors that dissipate energy in form of light when electric current passes through the junction of the diode. Normal diodes usually dissipate heat energy when electric current passes through the diode. LEDs are incredibly popular due to their ability to produce bright light when a low voltage is passed through the diode. Another major benefit of LEDs is their long life. Many of them can last over half a decade. Incandescent and fluorescent lamps can only last about a year. Thirdly, LEDs are highly efficient. They use over 80 percent of electrical energy they consume to produce light and only dissipate 20 percent in form of heat. With incandescent lamps, a lot of energy is wasted through dissipation of heat and the rest is used to produce light.
Unlike fluorescent lamps, which contain mercury. LEDs do not contain any heavy meals. In fact, they are environmentally friendly in a number of ways. The first is their high energy efficiency. Secondly, they do not contain any chemicals that may harm the environment. Thirdly, the materials used are 100 percent recyclable. Lastly, the long life of solar LEDs translates to reduced replacement costs, which is good for the environment.
The energy demand of LED lighting fixtures makes them suitable for use with solar power systems. A decent-sized battery pack can store enough energy to power the LED light throughout the night. When installed on street lighting poles, local authorities can expect to incur a lower maintenance cost. Furthermore, the annual replacement cost will be almost negligible.
Buying LEDs
LED lighting fixtures come in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes. There are string lights for staircase, guardrail and garden lighting, high power units for street lights and smaller LEDs for flashlights and phones.