THE PROS AND CONS OF SOLAR STREET LIGHTING
As the world’s cry for change grows louder with the passing of time, more and more people look to contribute to a greener Earth by turning to renewable sources of energy. At the forefront of that is the application of solar power in the lighting of our roadways and thoroughfares.
On the surface, solar energy looks to be our best replacement for conventional electric street lighting. And that would be correct! But why are there still areas that haven’t converted to solar energy? To understand this and to hopefully encourage more people to convince their areas to go solar, we have to look at all the benefits that solar energy provides as well as the disadvantages that come with it for people to be prepared when they become ready to convert to a better, greener alternative.
THE PROS
At the core of its concept, solar energy is a way for us to use an energy source that is consistent, always available, and most importantly, relatively cost-free. The energy harnessed from the sun makes it so that we are not taking from nature something that can’t be replaced. The sun provides light during the day, and we can use that same sun to provide light during the nighttime.
But other than that, the operational and maintenance costs for a solar lighting system is incredibly minute in comparison to electrically powered facilities. The lack of a unified grid for solar street lights means they power themselves independently, and they remain operational in the event of a serious electrical power outage. They also do not require several wires to be hooked up, practically taking away the electrocution hazards of wires as well as the physical risks that loose wires may present such as whiplash and strangulation in some very bad cases.
Solar street lights are also comparatively easy to transport and set up, especially in rural areas that need light the most. Also, in these rural areas where rotational power outages may be common, converting street lights to solar power can also mean less strain on electric power providers who can now allow more leeway and possibly avoid rotational power outages altogether.
Solar street lights also, on average, produce more lumen per watt than regular electric street lights. They are also incredibly resilient, reliable, and long-lasting and they can also be built to withstand any weather hazards that are present depending on the area. This also goes back to solar street lights not requiring wires. Most wires are hazardous during storms, especially in strong winds. A solar light fixture does not present that sort of danger in these situations.
On top of all of this, the world’s excessive reliance on non-renewable energy is still at ridiculously high levels and every city’s carbon footprint becomes so much more scrutinized. Reducing that carbon footprint and promoting a city’s efforts to go green can go a long way into convincing other cities to follow suit. The best way to begin with that is to convert to green energy on a large scale, and the street lighting is the perfect place to start.
There are so many advantages to using solar street lights, both economically and environmentally. But with any good thing, we must be prepared for any setbacks and possible disadvantages. If you’re thinking of using solar power for lighting up your roadways, it’s important to consider these disadvantages in order to prepare for them and to be able to minimize their effect. Also, it’s important to determine just how much the positives outweigh the negatives or vice versa, as that will ultimately decide whether going solar is the right choice or not.
THE CONS
There are a fair number of concerns that come with changing a street lighting setup from electrical to solar. One of which is the initial cost of replacing the existing street lamps with solar ones. Some cities look at the initial cost and are put off and sometimes fail to consider the long term cost benefits of it.
Being a wireless setup may also put the solar lights and its components at the risk of theft. Solar lights are more valuable than halogen lights and are usable on their own, so they may fetch a high price for any miscreants who may have theft in mind.
While maintenance costs are lower than average, they are not non-existent. Solar light fixtures in very dusty areas need to be checked to make sure the panels do not accumulate any residue that will cause any damage. The batteries will also need to be regularly checked to make sure they are performing up to par.
CONCLUSION
While the advantages do indeed seem to outweigh the disadvantages and going solar should definitely be the right move, it’s important to consider both sides of the story in order to fully understand what’s involved in switching to a greener energy source. To learn more about how you can help your area switch to solar street lighting, and to learn more about solar energy in general, contact the solar lighting experts at Quicklight Solar and Lighting Solutions.