The Technology of Indoor Solar Lighting

By Steve Schafer

How much do you know about solar lighting? Most people don't realize that it can be used both indoors and out. While many of us may not have considered using solar power to provide indoor lighting, it is becoming a growing trend world wide. It is a great way to save both money and energy.

Although history records the use of solar power as far back as the 7th century BC, indoor solar lighting technology is still in its infancy. In the United States, however it is being used to light small buildings in parks and other locations as well as for more industrial applications. These locations are ideal due to their lack of close proximity to sources of conventional electricity. A small number of commercial buildings in America have also installed solar lighting and we are seeing more every day.

Most of the indoor solar lighting in industrial use today is a mixture of solar light tube and solar powered light technology. Combinations of solar powered lighting and light tube technology are being used in high security applications like prisons. Solar light tubes are perfectly suited for this application, due to their ability to transfer considerable amounts of light to the interior of the structure using a very small footprint. This "hybrid" lighting method of combining solar powered lights as a back up to these light tubes produces a solar lighting system that is extremely efficient and effective.

There are actually many uses for indoor solar lights; like lighting up your garage, shed or gazebo - not to mention the inside of your home. The fact that you don't need an electrical source is a big advantage. All you need is a direct source of sunlight. No worrying about light bulbs or power outages. Indoor solar light installation is usually fairly easy and requires little if any maintenance and upkeep.

Some buildings on your property may be located far away from the main dwelling, making it expensive to provide electricity for even a single bulb. Indoor solar lighting is a great way to solve that problem swiftly and in most cases at very little cost. You can use them in your home as well, in the form of solar track lights or solar skylights.

With so many applications currently being made available, indoor solar lighting is showing a rapid increase in popularity. Peruse your local hardware store and you are sure to find lots of these "green" lighting products. As the technology becomes more advanced, more applications will be discovered for indoor solar lighting. The best part is that with the addition of indoor solar lights to your project, you will be saving money and the environment! - 31812

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