In this article, I would like to talk about solar powered fairy lights, which have recently become more and more popular for those looking for unique and festive ways to add lighting to their homes.
As you likely know, in recent years the importance of lessening our dependence on oil and other non-sustainable energy sources has become increasingly clear. And now with this very deep and stubborn recession that we are experiencing, most of us need to save money on energy costs more than ever before. One good, simple way to do this is to use solar lights. These are lights powered by solar energy. The lights store energy from sunlight during the day, and then come on at night. One of the most popular uses for these lights is to illuminate garden walkways.
A popular use of solar powered fairy lights is for outdoor Christmas displays
Many people use solar string lights and solar rope lights. These are individual bulbs strung together on a string or inside a tube, and resemble the traditional electric lights you would use on a Christmas tree. The number of bulbs on a string varies from less than fifty to two hundred or more.
You may think that outdoor solar lights are not a viable option if you live in a place where there is not constant sun, but this is not the case. Because these lights do not require as much energy as most devices that use electricity, they do not require exposure to many hours of direct sunlight. As with other simple devices that don’t require much power, such as solar powered watches and calculators, the light from an overcast sky is sufficient.
Solar lights are also not as expensive as you might think. For example, a set of ten lights used to line a garden walkway costs around $25. A string of 150 solar powered fairy lights costs around $50. While that latter price is somewhat higher than you are used to paying for traditional electric lights for your Christmas tree, you must keep in mind that in the long run you are saving money, since you don’t add to your electricity bill when you use them. The bulbs last for as many as a hundred thousand hours of illumination before needing to be replaced.
Solar lights are not directly powered by the sun. They are LED bulbs that are powered by rechargeable batteries. The batteries are within a solar control box. This box is what needs to be placed where it will receive as much light as possible, so the sunlight can recharge the batteries. The lights are connected to the box by a cable. One advantage of this indirect use of the sun’s energy is that you can use the lights in dark places indoors that never get much light. However, you would need to run a cable outside, so solar lights are mainly used outdoors.
The best way to get a good deal on solar powered fairy lights and other types of solar lights is to do some patient searching on the internet. Use a search engine such as Google or Bing, and use a variety of search terms. To find stores that specialize in solar products, use a phrase like “solar store”. If you want to find a brick and mortar store where you could see the lights in person before you purchase, add your city or region to the search phrase. However, the best prices almost always are found in Internet-only stores that ship the product to you.
When you do your searching, focus first on finding the lights that you like best. There is a large variety of shapes, colors, and sizes to choose from. Look at at least ten different models before making any decisions, and be sure to look for customer reviews of the specific lights you are considering. Then do a search for the particular makes and models you like the best, and add words like “price” or “lowest” to your search phrase to find the best price.
Using solar powered fairy lights is a great, economical way to start “going green”. Buy some today; you’ll be glad you did.
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