By Today’s energy crisis is approaching fast on the horizon. There’s been a popular trend of “going green” across the world with changes in energy use because of the encroaching fuel crisis. The rise of electric cars, self-sustainable gyms, massive solar array farms, and other green uses of energy are thankfully pushing back the energy crisis, but there’s still a long way to go. Fossil fuels currently comprise 80 percent of the world’s energy uses, and that number is expected to drop to 78 percent by 2040. One of the biggest drains to our current energy supply, believe it or not, are public utilities. To see energy conservation progress in our cities, it’s important for city officials to utilize renewable energy methods every way possible. There are a lot of concerns with renewable energy technology, however, and rightfully so. We’re sure many people wonder about the sustainability, usages, hassles, and price of investing in green energy technology.
The good news is that a lot of these concerns boil down to a matter of perception. Methods of switching to green energy can sometimes be more expensive upfront, but the long-term savings are worth the investment. One method of going green for cities, municipalities, and corporations is altering their external lighting. Street light cost can be excessively high unless you consider one of the most cost-efficient lighting solutions today: a solar street light.
Reduce Your Street Light Cost by Using Solar
We’ll address the concern on everyone’s mind: how much does a solar street light cost? You can expect to pay about 50% more for a solar street light over more traditional methods. So if you pay £2,300 for a high-pressure sodium light, expect to pay about £3,470 for solar LED lighting. But as before, it’s a matter of perception and perhaps misdirection. Companies that offer traditional lighting methods don’t like to mention the highest cost factor for installation-trenching. Street light costs for traditional lighting are indeed cheaper, but the price to get a high-pressure sodium light fully installed can tack on excessive charges. It costs over £23,000 to trench and wire for a system of only ten lights. Plus, another fantastic price benefit of solar LED lighting is that there’s no cost for using energy! The same traditional 10-light system can drain over £3,000 over the course of 5 years. So the benefits of solar lighting can be upfront as well as long-term.
Making Green from Going Green
For 2019, there’s a solar tax credit available for businesses purchasing solar LED lighting! Currently, the tax credit is a whopping 30% return of the total purchase price for a solar lighting system. So let’s say you want to buy a solar street light system of ten lights. With each light at £3,470, that’s a total of £34,700. A 30% return on the system totals £10,410. So on top of saving money from trenching and zero energy use, you still receive money back, dropping the total further. The 30% only lasts until the end of 2019–it will reduce over time.
Solar Efficiency Concerns
Switching to solar isn’t the first idea that comes to mind with green initiatives. We’re aware that many newcomers to green energy are concerned with how much power a solar panel might produce. The best solar panels on the market right now are monocrystalline panels. Couple them with LED lights and you’ve created a highly efficient solar panel with a highly efficient light fixture that will last about a week without sun exposure. Light systems in predominantly shady and overcast areas are equipped with beefier batteries so there’s no risk of running out of power if the sun doesn’t shine.
A World of Versatility in a Light
What makes these lights superior to many is their versatility. Do city regulations prevent you from digging? Is the soil in your project area far too silty for pole installation? Are train tracks pushing your bill costs into the unmanageable territory? Solar LED lighting can be placed virtually anywhere. If you have a construction project and need temporary street lights placed to keep work going day and night, these solar lights are capable of the job. Many of them can be moved via forklift or just two people. If you’re in a rural area without access to grid power, these lights are perfect for early morning work and late-night recreation. Rest assured that where there’s sunlight, you can operate these lights.
If you’re interested in looking into solar lighting as your solution to save money and go green, you’re in luck. The team over at Greenshine New Energy specialise in solar lighting solutions and has three decades of combined experience under one roof in Lake Forest, California. Be a part of the revolution in renewable energy and get in touch with them to learn more.
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