About Solar Lighting

Solar lighting has increased in popularity over the past few decades. As man has learned to harness the power of the sun, he has also learned the enormous benefits that can be gained from using solar power. The amount of sunlight that touches the earth each day is enough to provide the entire world with power and solar lighting.

History

Solar lighting has a long history that can be traced back as far as the 1st century AD. Roman bathhouses in this time period had large, south-facing windows used to let in the light and warmth of the sun. By the 6th century AD, public buildings and homes utilized solar lighting by way of sunrooms. This led to the initiating of "sun rights" to ensure all people had equal access to the sun.

It wasn't until 1767, however, that the first solar collector was created by Swiss scientist, Horace de Saussure. In 1908, solar collectors with copper coils were created by William J. Bailley of the Carnegie Steel Company. This is roughly the same design used in modern solar collectors. Today, solar lighting is commonly used in commercial and residential buildings across the world.

Function

Solar lighting is used for the same purposes as electrical lighting. Some homes and buildings use solar lighting exclusively, while others use it as a backup or complementary lighting source. Solar lighting can consist of complex systems of solar panels and collectors, or simple garden and accent lights.

Types

There are many different types of solar lighting available. The most commonly used are garden lights used to illuminate plants, light pathways or add accent to landscaping. Skylights are also considered solar lights. Other solar lighting types include off-grid systems that run off of solar panels and grid-tie systems that interconnect with existing utility networks. Hybrid solar lighting systems combine solar with gasoline or propane generators to compensate for insufficient power production.

Benefits

Solar lighting has many benefits to consumers and the environment. Solar power is a renewable resource. As long as the sun is in the sky, solar lighting will be available to us. Solar cells used for larger solar lighting systems are completely silent while they collect energy from the sun. Solar energy is also non-polluting and requires little maintenance. By using solar lighting, consumers can save thousands of dollars per year that they would normally pay for electrical lighting.

Warning

Although solar lighting presents many benefits, there are also a few disadvantages. Solar lighting can be expensive at the onset. The more complex the system, the more it will cost for initial equipment and installation. However, this will generally pay for itself in the long run. Perhaps the most obvious drawback to solar lighting is that it cannot be created at night. Many people overcome this disadvantage by investing in a hybrid solar lighting system.

Resources

• The History of Solar
• Solar Energy Information
• Solar Power: Advantages and Disadvantages