A solar powered garden is easier to achieve than you think. After all, all gardens are already solar powered – that’s how the plants make their food!
But what does a solar powered garden mean today? Yes, you can use your solar installation to run your electric lawn mower and power tools.
But solar technology has advanced far beyond these garden essentials. Here are six ways to harness the power of solar and extend ‘green power’ from your rooftop to the backyard.
Steps to a solar powered garden
1. Solar lights
Low-energy solar LED lights are today’s sustainable option. Because they use so little energy, they offer hours of lighting after dark. This can then illuminate pathways, highlight special areas of the garden or light up a water feature.
Solar lights have no wiring as PV cells are generally built into the casing. You can therefore move them easily around the garden to create soft or dramatic light displays.
Lights come with solar panels of different sizes. No electrician is needed and because they are self-sufficient, they won’t increase your power bill.
2. Solar irrigation
Solar power can also help you water your garden. Sunshine is the perfect irrigation resource – because you need most water when it’s warm and sunny.
Set up a dedicated solar panel in a sunny position. This charges a pump in your water tank. Water can then be delivered through a tube, pipe or dripper system to the places it’s needed most.
Once the battery is spent, it will stop until recharged again. It can take some experimentation to get it right. However, there are now plenty of solar options to keep your solar powered garden hydrated and green.
3. Solar sheds
Consider using solar panels to power up your garden shed. Panels can be customised to fit your shed roof.
A solar installation could power your fluorescent lighting, external security lights, a radio and variety of power tools.
Solar panels can also be mounted on the roof of your garage or carport. If you’re building a shed or garage from scratch, consider the best roof angle and pitch to optimise your solar power system.
4. Solar water features
Forget trailing wires, dodgy plugs and electrocution risks. Water features and fountains can now run on solar energy power.
Connect up the solar pump and place your solar panel in a sunny spot in the garden. Then enjoy your fountain, water display or mini-waterfall while you watch the sun sparkle on the water.
Solar energy pumps can also be used effectively in garden rock pools and fish ponds.
5. Solar swimming pools
You love to use your backyard swimming pool when the sun’s shining, right? This makes it the perfect candidate for solar power. It also reduces your electricity bills.
Run your pool or spa on clean, green solar energy. We recommend a 900 Watt solar pool pump for filtering a regular size swimming pool or solar heating a large pool.
As a general rule, total power from your solar array should be around 1.4 times the pump power. This ensures the pump can then work at optimum capacity.
6. Solar greenhouses
The technology is still young and expensive. However, it’s possible to build a greenhouse using solar glazing which collects power from its windows.
This kind of solar powered garden greenhouse features glass infused with fine films of photovoltaic cells. It generates so much energy you can also use it to power your house – supplying around three-quarters of an average household’s power use.
