It is impossible to imagine life without electricity; however, with changing climate conditions and the way the resources on earth are getting used up, options like electricity will be exhausted in the coming centuries, perhaps. To get through this issue, the world is now moving toward a more sustainable energy resource.
The best one, of course, is solar energy. It is the most efficient form of resource that can be used to generate electricity. One major electricity requirement is for street lights. The options for solar streetlights are being pursued to save the environment. If you are wondering if solar streetlights are better than traditional ones or not, then this article will help you understand that.
How Do Solar Street Light and Traditional Light Function?
The solar street light system in India works the same way as any other solar panel. The photovoltaic cells in the panels convert the sunlight into direct current. The direct current then can be stored and used at night time. The moment the sunlight hits the panels, it is stored, and then electricity is generated.
On the other hand, traditional light uses electricity to operate via an electric grid. This grid typically generates electricity by converting fossil fuels into electric currents. The fossil fuel used by traditional lights is a nonrenewable source of energy.
Key Differences Parameters Between a Solar Street Light and Traditional Light
Since humankind is accustomed to using traditional electricity or traditional light, adapting to solar street lights might catch us off, guard. Before switching completely to solar lights, it’s important to know if it is better than traditional ones. Below are some parameters that can explain which one is better.
Cost of Investment
Traditional light has comparatively lesser investment cost as compared to solar street lights. This is because the technology used in solar lights is fairly new and hence is costly. However, if you consider the long run, the investment in solar lights is a one-time thing; after the initial investment, solar street lights need little to no investment, while investment in traditional light is a recurring cost.
Running and Maintenance Cost
The running cost of solar streetlights is zero as the solar energy absorbed during the day is stored and used at night. Also, solar streetlights do not require maintenance again and again. On the other hand, traditional lights have running costs higher than solar street lights, and the maintenance cost is also quite higher.
Lifespan
When it comes to the period for which solar street lights will be good is about 5 to 7 years. Traditional lights on the other lights do not last for that long and hence might need to be changed. Hence, solar streetlights are much better in this parameter too.
Reliability
There are a lot of things that can go wrong during the generation of electricity for traditional lights and can cause cut-offs and load shedding. However, the sun is going to shine bright each day, more or less. Hence, the generation of solar light is more reliable.
Safety
The making of a traditional street light is, in a way, there are many wires involved. A little negligence can lead to short circuits. It can also cause accidental shocks. On the contrary, solar street lights have extremely fewer wires, thus cutting down the chances of a short circuit, and hence it is much safer.
Impact on Environment
Traditional lights are not healthy for the environment, given the way it is generated. However, if we speak about solar street lights, the generation of solar lights is completely based on solar power, which does not in any way impact the environment. Hence, solar streetlights are good for the environment.
Conclusion
It is high time that humans acknowledge the deteriorating conditions of the planet and devise plans to stop the harm. Switching to solar power is one step that can save grace for humans. Solar street lights, in all aspects, rank better than traditional lights.
The other benefit of getting more solar street lights is that it can benefit the rural areas too, where there is no electricity. So, using solar power is a win-win situation from all angles.
