Let the sun light up your outdoor spaces at night

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Published Date 6/29/2022

Outdoor lighting does more than highlight plants and trees. It provides safety and security as well. Homeowners on a budget looking to add solar lighting to their outdoor spaces have more options than ever before, adding energy efficiency while cutting costs as well.

TodaysHomeowner’s Danny Lipford points out a number of ways to incorporate solar lighting into your home’s exterior design. Start with your entry. “Making sure that your entryways are visible with solar-powered lighting helps to protect both guests and residents,” says Lipford. “Choosing solar-powered porch lights will help cut energy costs. These lights are easy to install without the hassle of electrical configuration.” As for porch lights, make sure they have access to direct sunlight to be used most efficiently. “If a porch or partial roof cover your main entryway, consider using other forms of solar lighting like hanging lanterns placed near steps and access points that can be installed in the ground or off other parts of your home,” he adds.

The most heavily trafficked areas of your yard often require lighting to prevent accidents. So light up your pathways to ensure that guests and family members can see where they are going and avoid any obstacles. As for styles, colors and sizes, you’ll have a wide array from which to choose. In-ground lights usually include a staked bottom that allows for easy installation into the ground. Small solar panels sit on top of the light fixture, soaking up the sun during the day to use at night.

And don’t forget those plants or trees that deserve highlighting. “Many homeowners have beautiful gardens surrounding their homes that seem to be forgotten once night arrives,” says Lipford. “Consider using solar-powered spotlights to feature different plants to draw attention to the garden and can help you enjoy your plants more throughout every season. Since solar lighting is portable, you can even move them around as different plants bloom at different times of the year.

As for security measures, choose floodlights to guard certain areas of your home at night. They not only provide abundant light to your yard but can also deter home intruders, especially with motion sensors that will turn on only when motion is detected. Doing so will help conserve energy and alert you to movement outdoors well past sunset. They also help to discourage neighborhood pests that like to approach your yard at night.

And last but not least, you can now choose solar-powered string lights on patios, porches, and outdoor dining areas, adding ambiance — even in the middle of the yard, as solar-powered string lights can be hung anywhere without the need for an electricity source.

While solar-powered lighting may lack the brightness of wired lighting, to optimize their reach make sure that your fixtures have proper batteries (no corrosion), keep your solar lenses and panels clean, and do a routine follow-up at night to see what might need to be replaced.

Todayshomeowner, TBWS

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