We understand that it’s difficult to justify costs for new solar panel lighting, especially if project managers and check signers are rooted heavily in traditional lighting methods that have been cost-effective for years. It can be a little scary making the leap from one method towards another when the return on investment isn’t clear. Simply put, the facts about solar aren’t always apparent. We invite you, our guest, to consider the facts below and think about how solar can positively impact a decision financially and ecologically. Besides, the power of the sun per NASA is rated at 1,368 Watts per square meter at a distance of one astronomical unit (basically from the sun to the Earth). Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that?

Facts About Solar Panel Lighting

Solar Panels Have Increased in Efficiency to Above 20 Percent on Average

Solar power is actually older than many realize; the development of harnessing solar power was introduced in the mid 1800s when Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect. The first solar cell was less than 1% efficient with total power output. Modern panels are over 22% efficient--quite a change! As this technology develops and strengthens over time, we may see a jump in efficiency to 50 percent in the near future, an exciting threshold for universal energy. Every year we see progress towards solar technology that’s cheaper and more efficient. It’s just a matter of taking that small risk and jumping on the solar bandwagon.

Solar Energy is Incredibly Clean...and Solar Panel Lighting is Cheaper Than Ever

We have access to a virtually unending power source that can justify the price for solar panel lighting in a matter of years. Solar energy has zero impact on health and can reduce pollution and waste from oil and coal-based energy. Plus, the price per wattage produced by solar paneling has dropped to about 3.50 USD, a drastic drop of about 74 dollars from the 1970s. It’s a source of energy that’s cheap, clean, and renewable (at least until the sun dies out, we think). Why wouldn’t someone consider it for their next energy project?

It’s Not Just a Daytime Concern

A pain point for a lot of people considering the switch is what might happen when the sun doesn’t shine. After all, solar power is dependent on the sun, and when the sun isn’t around there’s concern about power sustainability during winter storms and cloudy conditions. Numerous corporations have stepped forward to invest in solar power storage, so those concerns of a powerless world during the darkest times of the year are shrinking. Many solar LED lights today utilize gel-cell deep cycle batteries that retain enough energy to last for days during the winter--and that doesn’t even address how long a solar power plant could sustain power. Plus, solar panels don’t require direct exposure to the sun to harness the energy. Even overcast days provide some kind of energy to gather and use.

Up front, the costs for solar panels may seem daunting and unapproachable, but using the sun’s power to fuel something else will eventually cover the cost for the panels themselves. The future of energy is pretty clear; we are trending towards an energy revolution with the sun at the center of it, with clean, cheap power for everyone to harness and use.

If you’re wondering if  solar power is the best avenue for your next lighting project, consider Greenshine. We are leaders in solar LED paneling with combined experience of over 30 years and over 5,000 installations spanning multiple industries. If you’d like to be a part of the growing energy revolution, feel free to contact us to learn more. Be the first on your block to harness the power of the sun and be an example of what the future holds for us all.