At present, more than 80 American cities have announced new plans to move away from fossil fuels by launching renewable energy programs. Take California as an example. It is rich in natural resources and very supportive of using renewable energy. As early as 2009, 11.6% of California's electricity was generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and small hydropower facilities. At the end of 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that required 50% of California's electricity to come from renewable sources by December 31, 2030.

Among those current renewable energy sources, solar energy is the most abundant and easily available energy source. With the popularity of solar water heaters, the use of other solar products has become more and more popular. Solar outdoor lighting is one of them. Here are the 3 reasons why solar outdoor lighting continues to be popular in recent years.

Facts About Solar Outdoor Lighting

Solar Is Environmentally Friendly

According to the data, in 2017, hydroelectric energy accounts for the largest share of renewable energy use. However, hydropower plants require large-scale water conservancy projects that will destroy the original natural environment. Solar is more environmental-friendly because most solar products are independent and won’t do harm to the environment.  

Using solar outdoor lighting to replace traditional electric lighting is an easy way for a city to decrease its carbon footprint, because the solar panels generate energy from the sun, while thermoelectricity power relies on burning fossil fuels.

Cost-effective

Believe it or not, solar lighting is the most cost effective lighting solution. Some people take it for granted that solar products are expensive, but that is far from the truth. Although the purchase price of solar lights is higher than that of ordinary lights, it turns out that the money saved from avoiding extra upfront costs associated with traditional street lights, such as trenching and wiring, will eventually add up and cover the costs of the initial payment for solar lighting almost immediately.

We compared the total costs of these two types of lights in Cost Effectiveness: Traditional Street Lights VS. Solar Energy Lights, and the result is that the total cost of traditional street lights per unit ranges from $7,000-8,000 over a 10 year period, while solar street light cost is estimated at $3,500-5,000 over the same period of time.

National Support for Solar Outdoor Lighting

In 2012, Alabama launched a solar street lighting project to replace 36 aging and outdated mercury vapor lamps along US Highway 431. It saves the city about $7,000 a year and reduces light pollution. The environmental benefits of solar outdoor lighting, combined with its sustainability and safety, encourage more and more cities in the US to establish policies implementing solar outdoor lighting projects. By using renewable, solar energy, cities are moving towards a more healthy, vibrant, and equitable communities.Solar lighting represents the future. Come and join the trend.