Home > Learning Center > Solar lighting
Solar lighting
Solar lighting can refer to natural solar lighting or electrical lighting powered by the sun. It can refer to garden lights or indoor lights. There are multiple types of solar lighting.
Solar garden lights are generally self-contained units, complete with a small solar panel, battery pack, and bright LED. These must be placed in direct and adequate sunlight during the day so that the battery can be charged to run the light at night. Some garden lights have separate solar panels that can be placed in the sun while the light unit itself is kept in the shade.
Natural solar lighting is often used in the homes. Of course, unlike solar garden lights, it only works when the sun is shining. Newer homes are often built in ways that utilize the natural light of the sun. They are built with large windows in every room and skylights. In these homes, it is often unnecessary to turn on an electrical light during the day.
While basic skylights (windows in the roof) have been popular for many years, sun pipes or “sunshine from a tube” are also becoming popular. To learn more about these tubular skylights, check out this article by Mother Earth News:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Nature-and-Environment/2004-02-01/Sunshine-From-a-Tube.aspx
Another type of solar lighting is a heliostat. A heliostat is a mirror that tracks the sun and reflects its light onto a target. It can be used to light up rooms that would otherwise be dark. It is especially useful for lighting up north facing areas.
A more recent type of solar lighting that many people are raving about is hybrid solar lighting. Sunlight is captured and channeled into a room via optical fibers. During the day, mirrored dish rooftop collectors track the sun, and sunlight is focused onto the optical fibers (which are bundled into a cord). When there is no sunlight, electricity is used for illumination of the fibers.
Learn more about hybrid solar lighting at MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7287168
Solar panels | Alternative energy | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home
Copyright © 2007