Some Great Indoor Lighting Ideas Using Solar Lights

Solar lights are a great way to save your wallet while saving the earth. When most people think of solar lighting, usually outdoors landscape lighting comes to mind. But what is surprising is that you can actually use solar lights indoors as well. In this article we will take a look at some great and fun ideas to do a little something for the planet while saving some money. One of the simplest ideas is to realize that you can use some of the landscape solar lights indoors. There are many types of solar landscape lantern lights. These lights usually hang on a hook and are available in a lot of different styles and types. The idea here is to remember during the daytime to place the fixture near a window (or hang it outside) so it can charge. When needed at night – you can turn the light on inside, or bring the charged unit inside, and get the free light. Because the price of these light fixtures is so cheap, you can purchase several to increase the light level.

Besides repurposing landscape lighting indoors, you can also purchase special solar accent lighting for you home. One unit which is popular is a table top solar light. This unit can be placed on any table and will provide light to the table like an old fashioned oil lamp.

Another fun idea is a solar lit atmosphere bowl. These are decorative solar powered bowls, or vases which charge in the day light and then actually light up at night. They can lend a light glow to a room and add atmosphere without adding to your utility bill.

If you are looking for something, which is installed, in your house, there are several purpose built home solar lighting systems now being sold. These units originally were invented for use in sheds and in building where electric wasn’t available. The units have been adapted for home use, and only cost several hundred dollars. Compare this to a full solar system for your home, and you can see that this is a very cost effective way to help get you partly off the power grid. Some of the newer units actually can support several energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. The way these units work is they have a large outdoor solar panel. Usually this can be located on your roof, out of sight. The solar panel is wired to an inverter and battery unit. The lights are wired to the battery. During the day the solar panel charges the battery. At night, the battery powers the lights in the rooms. While this type of lighting is a little more involved then the other methods mentioned above, it is a great way to get a solar system without spending a lot, which can benefit multiple rooms of your home. It can also become a selling point, and add to the value of your home.

No matter what solar lighting project you pick, have fun and enjoy, secure in the knowledge that you are saving a buck and the planet.