| Whether you agree with the gloom and doom | | | | miles from the power lines you are better off |
| prophecies of global warming or not, most people | | | | going solar for your lighting. The power company |
| would agree that it is a good idea to reduce our | | | | would charge you a small fortune to run power |
| dependence on fossil fuels. One of the most | | | | lines out to you. Investigate the cost for your |
| commonly discussed ways to do this for the | | | | location - but $25,000 or so is not uncommon. |
| home is to set up a solar powered lighting | | | | How long are you going to live in the home you |
| system. | | | | will be converting to solar lighting? One of the |
| Solar home lighting using photovoltaic solar panels | | | | biggest problems with solar lighting is there is a |
| has been around for a long time but, except in | | | | huge upfront investment. A 2-kilowatt lighting |
| limited circumstances, it has not been considered | | | | system for a small to medium size home that |
| a cost effective venture for the average | | | | includes photovoltaic panels, sine wave inverter, |
| homeowner. Has the time come with | | | | charge controller, storage batteries and installation |
| improvements in technology and the | | | | probably would cost $15,000 to $20,000. But once |
| ever-increasing cost of electricity for the average | | | | the system is installed, there are almost no |
| homeowner to switch to solar lighting? Today | | | | operating costs. You probably have to replace the |
| there is no simple answer to that question. Ten or | | | | batteries every 5 or 6 years - and light bulbs - |
| twenty years from now the answer will probably | | | | but that is about it. If you are confident you are |
| be a straightforward yes go with solar lighting; but | | | | going to live in the home for 30 or 40 years then |
| right now you need to ask yourself several | | | | you will almost always get payback on your |
| questions before opting for a photovoltaic lighting | | | | investment in solar lighting. But if your job or |
| system for your home. | | | | other situation means you will probably move in |
| The cost of electricity varies widely from place to | | | | the next 5 years then the solar lighting system |
| place and obviously will impact your solar lighting | | | | will not have paid for itself. You can make the |
| decision. For example, in the USA, the cost of | | | | argument that the lighting system increases the |
| electricity from the power company is 3 times | | | | value of the home but realtors and buyers may |
| higher in Hawaii than it is in Idaho. In places like | | | | not see it that way. |
| Southern California and Hawaii it is almost always | | | | Perhaps the biggest question you need to ask |
| cost effective to set up a solar lighting system | | | | yourself is how seriously you want to contribute |
| because of the cost of electricity in those areas. | | | | to energy conservation. If you are the type of |
| Location also affects the amount of sunlight you | | | | person that uses compact fluorescent light bulbs |
| get every day. A solar lighting system in Florida or | | | | instead of regular ones, and sorts and recycles |
| California will generate more power on an average | | | | plastic, paper and metal in your garbage then you |
| day than one in Alaska. | | | | are probably the type of person that would feel |
| Another factor to consider for new construction | | | | good about investing in a solar lighting system. |
| is how close you are to the power company's | | | | Solar lighting ends up being a personal life style |
| electrical grid. For lake cottages, mountain cabins | | | | and philosophy decision, as much as a cost |
| and desert ranches if you are more than about 3 | | | | decision. |