My Active Zone

The ever increasing costs of energy bills and electric power have caused many consumers to look to new technologies and renewable energy.  Geothermal and wind power are among the most efficient means of providing electricity, but are very expensive to set up and are only available in specific areas of the country.  The most popular and the least cost intensive means of renewable and environmentally friendly electricity is solar power.  A solar grid collects light energy during the day with next to no maintenance required, so that a few grids can be enough to power an entire house.  Specific light fixtures can be run off a single source; solar lights are a great choice to illuminate a backyard without having to connect tangled power cables to the house’s central power.

Solar umbrella lights are different from normal stand alone garden lighting.  As the name suggests, the electric bulbs are rigged to the underside of an umbrella, so that a fixture like a Butterfly solar light means that storm clouds need not ruin an outdoor event, allowing both shelter from the rain and enough light to see friends and food.  While standard umbrella lighting requires a lengthy extension cord to run through the bottom of the table and to the nearest power source, solar patio lights simply draw their energy from a cloudless sky.  The result from a solar umbrella like a GAMA overhead is warm glow and no need to worry about power outages or short circuits.

Most solar umbrella lights are similar in style and function, with only two major differences in models.  An overhead umbrella design is no different than the standard shape for rain covers, protecting a table and the inhabitants from direct precipitation, with lighting on the inside.  An offset model of patio umbrella lights, by comparison, uses an adjustable branch to twist and turn it about on an axis, so that the canopy can protect and illuminate different areas without having to be broken down.  Offset umbrellas are much more expensive than stand alone solar patio lighting.  A Praline offset umbrella costs five hundred dollars more than a Southern Patio overhead.  The choice for a customer is simply that of function; for a mere barbecue or get together, there is no need for the larger umbrella, but a gathering like a wedding needs greater protection.

Solar umbrella lighting can be found at local home improvement stores, so check out designs and product availability if you believe solar power is ideal for your back yard.