Landscape lighting used to be somewhat of a luxury present predominantly in more affluent neighborhoods. Lately, however, as I visit friends and family, I notice that more and more people of every consequence choose to enhance their yards, gardens, and pathways with landscape lights. From my observations, this change is mainly due to the introduction of solar powered lights to the outdoor lighting industry. Indeed, solar lights have several great advantages over regular electric lights:

• Solar power is free of charge - it is a renewable (or naturally replenished) source of energy as opposed to finite and costly resources like oil and coal.
• Cool, safe to touch light - most solar lights use LEDs which generate very little heat and are therefore safe to touch (which is very convenient if you have children and/or pets.)
• Safe and easy installation (no risk of electrocution) - landscape solar powered lights are generally very easy to install (steak them into the ground, screw them to your deck, or simply hang them on trees.) They mostly do not require wiring, and if they do, they are not connected to an electrical power source; thus eliminating the risk of electrocution.
• Low maintenance – there is not much maintenance after installation. The lights get their charge during the day from the sun and automatically turn on at night. Occasionally you need to replace the rechargeable battery or make sure the solar panel is not obscured. Otherwise, they may be left alone for a long time to do what they were designed to do.
• Safe for the environment – solar power does not emit pollutants into the atmosphere thus being harmless for the environment. This, perhaps, is the most important advantage of solar lights.

So, if you decide to adorn your yard with landscape lights, consider the advantages of solar lights. Whether you wish to beautify your yard or simply add safety at night, there are plenty of solar light choices available.