Public lighting isn't something that's thought about very often--we doubt you're raving about how there's a new light system with a Type V light fixture at your favorite park. But something as mundane as a pathway light can actually be quite marvelous, especially if the light in question is an outdoor solar pathway light. These kinds of lights are highly technological, extremely cost-effective, and fantastic on the environment. If you're in the market for a new project to illuminate a public path with lights, stick around--this 6-minute read will educate you on how to keep your wallet fat and your smile bright via the power of Earth's closest star. Read up on the benefits of solar.

Why Outdoor Solar Pathway Lights are Superior

We've heard some concerns in the past--"Isn't solar super expensive? How long does it last? Will it work for my project?" As a solar lighting corporation with over 5 thousand installations across the US, we're here to quell those concerns. Yes, solar will work for you under the right conditions. Generally those conditions require that the lights are outside and not obstructed from the sun by trees or other objects. Let's dive into these questions one by one. Thanks for your attention.

The Price of Solar (and Why It's Not a Bank Breaker)

Photovoltaics (PVs) have significantly dropped in the past decades at first due to research and development investments from the US and Europe, but then eventually China stepped in to support manufacturing for local demand. Companies then scaled upwards, increasing their efforts to develop the most efficient panels of all with tried-and-true methods revolving around silicon wafer photovoltaics. This falling trend is expected to continue over the next decade. We've already surpassed cost-effectiveness in comparison to fossil fuels, but there are several factors holding solar back from being the most readily available power source. Regardless, the price for a solar endeavor has dropped nearly 99 percent from the 1970s. It will continue to drop.

Newer solar technologies, while projected to surpass silicon-based solar cell efficiency, aren't great for mass marketing. Perovskite panels use gold. This presents obvious problems of price and potential vandalism, not great for solar lights. Thin film and polycrystalline cells aren't as efficient, begging the question of total ROI when applied to solar lights. When it comes to the highest price-to-performance ratio, monocrystalline silicon solar cells are still king. But don't just take our word for it--gaze upon one of our previous projects with solar lights for pathways and you'll see the real benefits when it comes to benjamins.

In regards to the entire package of a solar light for pathway, the price matters in the trenching and wiring, electricity cost over 5 years, and low maintenance costs. An average traditional lighting system can cost a whopping 32 thousand for trenching and wiring, while a solar project costs 0. The same goes for electricity cost--0 bills for solar, while energy bills for traditional lighting can rack up beyond 4 thousand. Include low maintenance on solar lighting (typically a sixth of maintenance for traditional lighting) and you'll find you can often save about 50% off the total price when you pick solar over traditional lighting. That's no pocket change.

Lasting Woes

We're sure you like to have Ron Popeil's mindset when developing a new lighting project--"Set it and forget it!" Solar lights don't really need much beyond a little maintenance every now and then--brushing off the panels to rid them of debris is about all that's necessary. In regards to how long the equipment lasts, the batteries are rated to last about 5 to 7 years before they need replacing. We carry hot-dipped, powder-coated, galvanized steel poles so each light will typically win against battering, high winds, or the occasional individual that believes they have superhuman strength. The poles and the panels are rated to last over 20 years, so worry not for the lifespan of the most crucial working components.

Will Solar Work for My Area?

Concerned about the conditions in your area? Rain, wind, sleet, or snow, each system is made to weather the weather. Every pole can withstand up to 145 Mile per Hour winds. We won't lie--heat does damage a solar panel, but it only drops the efficiency by a smidge. Knocking the pole slightly should take care of any snow buildup, and rain tends to help the panel get rid of dust and other debris. If it rains often (choking out the sun's glorious rays) we prepare our systems with beefier batteries so that a single charge can last several days.  It's proof that solar lighting will last anywhere, rain or shine. When it comes to where your outdoor solar pathway lights might be, don't worry--we thought of it!

A Matter of Trenching

A hidden benefit that new customers often don't know about is that solar lighting doesn't require trenching. What does this mean for you? Well, if you'd like to set up an entire lighting project and reduce your bill by half (that's an average of projects sold), skipping trenching is where the savings come in. Digging is quite expensive, believe it or not, and we take pride in saving our customers literally several thousands of dollars on their pathway lighting project by avoiding costly labor fees to bury wiring and connect it to a main power grid. If your path or park already has beautification efforts implemented, keep those intact and save money by using solar. Got concrete? You don't need to break that up to pull power! Solar lights are self-contained and independent from the power grid and other lights. Plus, in the case of a power outage the lights will remain on. It's a fantastic alternative for recreational areas after dark.

A Matter of Safety, Too

We like to think of our lights as watchguards at night. Every light fixture of ours uses the highest-rated Cree LED lights that have some of the highest color rendering index on the market rated at 98. What you see is what you get under the light. Other lighting technologies typically produce stranger colors--ever seen a red car under a high-pressure sodium light? It looks black. Light quality here isn't compromised for the sake of safety, and we're proud to offer some of the purest light to see subjects clearly for whatever park you're in.

Greenshine New Energy is in the solar business because we care about delivering the best quality for the money. Our outdoor solar lights for pathways are superior than traditional lighting methods because of the money saved, the technology involved, and the result achieved--clean, renewable power without the hassle of energy bills. If you'd like to see how many greenbacks you can keep with one of our solar lights for your park or pathway, contact us and we'll put our heads together to get the best deal around. If you'd like to learn more, read up on our solar lighting guide. Thank you!