Most people have never had to deal with the installation of a traditional lamp post. It is often surprising to read about all of the steps and frustrations that usually accompany such a job. Depending upon the type of fixture, the owner or installer will have to lay in the appropriate electrical or gas lines, pour a large and hefty base from concrete that will prevent wiring or gas lines from shifting and then make regular maintenance on the work for years to come. All of the digging, pouring, wiring, leveling and hassle can be eliminated simply by choosing to install solar lamp posts instead. These are efficient and durable lighting fixtures that require only the light of the sun to enable them to operate for hours afterwards.

Today’s solar post lights come in a staggering number of designs and styles and the advancements in LED technology, which is the standard light bulb utilized in a solar lamp of any kind will allow for lighting that can easily compete with old-fashioned fluorescents. In fact, the beauty of opting for solar lamps and fixtures means that such time consuming, risky and expensive tasks as changing light bulbs might only happen once every few years!

Of course, the real benefits of solar lamps come from the fact that they are entirely “off the grid”. They do not use any natural resources, do not cost the owner anything other than their purchase price and the occasional LED change, and will help to save the environment. Solar lamp posts are not merely an earth-friendly alternative to gentle exterior lighting; today’s options feature powerful lamps, motion sensors, on board timers or dusk to dawn sensors and heavy duty materials that can see them installed in both residential and commercial applications.

While they are often stylish in design, solar lamps are also made to serve some very specific functions. They can be incorporated into a home or business security system where they illuminate dark corners of yards or entryways, they can be placed near areas that are often difficult to negotiate after dark, such as stairs or walkways, and they can be used to accent a garden or landscape in a decorative fashion during both day and night time hours.

Clearly, solar lamp posts and fixtures can provide an easy, long-lasting and incredibly affordable option in exterior lighting. They take moments to install, require little to no maintenance and save the owner thousands of dollars in electrical or gas usage over the course of their lifetime. Solar Lighting Solutions for a Deck or Patio There are millions of homes with an attached deck or patio, and many of them have a single, wall-mounted lighting fixture that illuminates the space after dark. This is often an unappealing sort of “spot” light that most people would rather avoid. The most common answer when using the area after sunset is to use candles, tiki torches or other temporary lighting sources, but of course these can be costly, time consuming and even dangerous. They also don’t provide any real or durable illumination.

Is there any kind of solution? Usually, anyone hoping to illuminate their deck or patio will first investigate their “hard wired” options. Often this leads to frustration because there are only a limited range of exterior lighting solutions that can be used around a deck or patio area without the need for a lot of electrical work. With solar lighting fixtures however, the range of fixtures and ease of installation make it an irresistible choice.

Today’s exterior solar lighting fixtures features pole, wall and hook-mounted options which come equipped with motion and light sensors that allow them to operate both efficiently and effectively. For example, a solar deck lighting configuration would be able to serve as recreational illumination as well as security thanks to motion sensors, solar spot lights and floodlights that can be aimed or used how and wherever necessary.

Let’s look at a “standard” deck and see how solar lighting fixtures could be used in a far superior way than standard electrical units. First the entrance to the deck from the home could be outfitted with a decorative accent fixture mounted to the wall above the doorway; this would turn on automatically at dusk and run until sunrise or it could be outfitted with an easy to use timer. The railing of the deck could have decorative fixtures mounted at fixed locations or it could have solar lamp posts set at the corners. A few solar floodlights could be placed around the yard to accent ornamental trees, light darkened areas for security purposes and ensure that the pathways were very clear. Finally, any gates or entrance areas for the deck or patio could also be outfitted with motion sensor lights that illuminated the gate upon the approach of a visitor or owner, but which could be programmed to turn off within a few minutes of being triggered. Clearly, there are dozens of solar lighting options to utilize in a deck or patio lighting configuration, and while many would say the same fixtures are available in standard “hard wired” arrangements, the fact of the matter is that the homeowner could easily install the solar fixtures without the added expense of a professional electrician and without the monthly electricity bills.