Going green could be thought of as putting money into green investments. The good news is that renewable energy sources will never be depleted. For example, solar energy comes from the sun, while geothermal energy actually taps into the Earth’s internal heat for a variety of uses such as heating and cooling of buildings and electrical power production.

There are many benefits of renewable energy. The more renewable energy we utilize, the less fossil fuels we need. Choosing renewable sources of energy can save you money, but, better yet, it can save the environment.

Solar lights are a good first step to going green. Solar lighting can be used along driveways, sidewalks, patios and gardens. You can select motion activated lights or floodlights for outside security. All they require is direct sunlight for power. Although they are initially more expense then traditional lighting, the expense can be recouped by the fact that you are not required to install underground wiring. Since there is no wiring required, they are very easy to install. Also, since they are powered by the sun, they won’t drive up your electric bill.

Often thought of as outdoor lighting only, there are also ways to utilize solar lights inside your home. Solar tubes channel light through the roof directly into your home. They can light up any room with natural daylight. The light is captured by a small dome on your roof and channeled down a tube through your attic and into the room. This reduces the need for lighting during the day thereby saving power and reducing your electric bill. They work great in bathrooms and hallways.

So if you have decided to save the environment, choose solar lights. Solar light fixtures are easy to install, maintenance free, stay cool so they are safe for children, and there is not an electrical shock hazard.

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You can decorate with solar string lights any time of the year. The availability of red, blue, green, and clear make them a very popular choice for outdoor Christmas decorations. By using solar string lights, you are able to decorate areas that would normally be difficult or impossible to decorate if your lights required you to connect to an electrical outlet. You can use solar string lights across the top of your house or draped over bushes in your yard. You can even decorate your dog’s house for Christmas with solar lighting. If you have a garden trellis that is typically filled with flowers but is otherwise empty in the winter, you can easily decorate that as well. Put the lights on a small tree in your yard. Wrap the lights around your porch post if you have some. Outline the front door with a string of solar lights to draw attention to a beautiful wreath hanging on the door.

You can extend the use of solar powered lights throughout the winter in different ways. Instead of using the multicolored lights that give your home a holiday look, use solar string lights that are clear or possibly blue. Snowflake, icicle, and star designs can be used during the winter months to add a soft illumination to your home, patio, or garden area.

Instead of retiring your red solar light fixtures after Christmas, you could use them to decorate your yard for Valentine’s Day. If you have a garden bench, or possibly two chairs and a table, as a seating arrangement in your yard, wrap red solar string lights around them. The red illumination of the sitting area adds a romantic touch to your outdoor space. Placing string lighting around a topiary or a metal heart sculpture is also a good decorating tactic for the month of February.

Creatively use the green solar string lights for St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Perhaps you could light up some shamrock yard art with a string of clear solar lights. As you can see, the opportunities for being creative with solar powered lights are endless!

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