Why Buy a Solar Powered Water Fountain for Home?
Ever since the first solar cell was invented by Bell Labs in 1954, the growth for solar has grown significantly, especially in the last ten years. The number of solar panels being installed in homes today is less than 1% of all households but is projected to be at 4% by 2030–a whopping fourfold increase. Today, you can also take advantage of the many benefits that solar power has to offer right in your home garden without worrying about getting permits from your city and negotiating with your electricity company. While solar panels can be great and are even incentivized by the government, they can be tricky to navigate through all the red tape. The easiest way to take immediate advantage is with a solar powered water fountain in your home.
Solar Power History
Solar cell technology has really come down in cost and is widely available to the average consumer. To be a “green thumb” gardener or landscaper, making use of this wonderful technology is a must. The solar powered water fountain needs to have direct access to the sun but after that, it just runs on its own. The water fountain pump is actually designed to work in conjunction with a solar panel which is shipped with a new solar outdoor fountain. The solar water pump powers itself off its own energy collected from the sun by the solar panel. This provides the benefit of it being a self-sufficient garden feature and gives your home and garden a green stamp of approval.
There’s no reason why solar technology should only be enjoyed by big electricity companies building solar power plants. A solar water fountain itself is like a mini power plant that generates just enough energy to run the pump which circulates water through your fountain. Most fountains have some sort of spout or waterfall system set up so that the water is constantly moving and gets recycled. The added benefit is that no separate water supply hookup is required at all. Simply fill it with water initially and after that keep the water level maintained.
Solar Fountains Soothe Visually and Audibly
No gardener or landscaper will argue the visual aesthetic that a solar power garden fountain will bring to the back or front yard of your home. Some fountain designs are also cleverly designed to conceal the black solar panel, which can be somewhat of an eyesore. Others still ship a solar panel attached through a long electrical cable so that it can be placed out of sight and away from the solar powered fountain itself. Water fountains not only add visual appeal, they have add another dimension of soothing a peace through sound. The sound of water running through a fountain is one of the most peaceful and serene things for a gardener.
You might wonder what will happen to a solar powered water fountain when it gets dark out. Depending on the fountain system, it will either shut off on its own (thus saving the wear on the water pump) or if it has a separate rechargeable battery pack, can continue to run well into the night from energy it has stored during the day. Even the absence of sunlight won’t stop some water fountains from running.
A solar fountain need not be a large fixture that you must install in your backyard landscape. There are also small desk fountains that you can put in your kitchen or even office that are still powered by the sun. Just make sure you put these smaller desk fountains in a place with access to a lot of sunlight so it will have sufficient energy to power the water pump.
Though the initial cost for solar panel technology was so pricey that only power companies or large corporations could afford them, the costs have really come down since the 1980s and have been steadily decreasing ever since. Solar panels have also greatly increased in efficiency as well, requiring less cells to convert more energy than ever. Even twenty years ago it was inconceivable that you would be able to buy a solar powered garden fountain for your home that ran on its own power without any external electricity. While there is an upfront cost for a garden fountain that is equipped for solar, the cost savings in your electricity bill soon offset cost. Just like a hybrid car saves money over gas in the long run, so is the same with a solar powered water fountain.
Some Advantages:
- Earn a “green thumb” stamp of approval
- No external power lines or cables needed
- Self-sufficient and low maintenance
- Can run even without available sunlight
- Smaller desk fountains are great for the home
- Easier to take advantage of solar power than a solar panel installed on your home rooftop
And Disadvantages:
- Larger upfront cost for solar technology
- Eventual rechargeable battery replacement may be needed
Pros and Cons of Solar Powered Fountains
Solar powered fountains are a great way to accessorize your home, garden, and even your work space. It comes with all the aesthetic qualities that any normal water fountain would provide you, but does so in an environmentally friendly way. With electricity out of the equation, you can now enjoy these fountains without having to incur any extra costs.
Pros:
- Solar powered – The most obvious advantage to purchasing a solar fountain is that it does not run on electricity.
- Mobile – Having it run purely on solar energy takes out all the trouble of finding an outlet to plug it into—thus restricting your placement of choice.
- Versatile – Solar water fountains are versatile in that they can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- Low maintenance – Not only is it easy to install and use, but easy to manage since it shuts off by itself.
- Humidifier substitute – Instead of buying an actual humidifier, you can place a solar fountain inside your home and have it act as a humidifier.
- Variety – Solar fountains are not in any way limited to only one design. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs—there is bound to be one that will suit your standards.
Solar garden fountains are identical to any given traditional outdoor water fountain in that they are manufactured in the same way and with the same materials. The only difference is they now come with built-in or detachable solar panels.
The key thing to remember when using your solar fountain is to strategically place it in a place where it will catch sunlight. A location with direct sunlight is preferable.
Cons:
- Needs direct sunlight – A solar fountain placed in a somewhat shady area will prevent the fountain from functioning at its best. On cloudy days, the fountain will also not function as well.
- Does not operate at night – The solar panel cannot accumulate and store solar energy for later use. It will not function at night.
Although in general, most solar fountains will not function as well in cloudy weather, there are some companies that will provide you with an additional electrical pump that will allow for the fountain to run even on cloudy days. If the place where you live is often snowing, then it is recommended that you consider buying a different kind of fountain altogether, since it may damage the solar fountain pump. Disconnecting the pump will be sufficient enough to prevent any cold weather damage during the winter months.
In terms of deciding where to place your garden fountain, you have complete freedom in choice. Depending on the type of model you choose, the solar panels can be placed up to fifteen feet away from the fountain itself. With the separate solar panel feature, your placement options are limitless. Solar fountains can be simply placed on the lawn or mounted on a stake and placed on any kind of surface area. It can serve as the focal point of your garden or as a way to create a soothing atmosphere with its serene water sounds. Owning a solar powered fountain could be one of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to enhancing the overall look and feel of your home and garden.
Solar Powered Fountains Make Any Garden Green
If you are an avid gardener, you may often use gardening as a way to relax for some time and re-energize your mind and spirit. Gardening has always been about maximizing use of available soil for your favorite plants or shrubs. A great way to decorate a garden and make it a peaceful environment at the same time is to install a solar powered fountain. Not only will it give your garden a peaceful water noise which is great for relaxation and feng shui, it is powered by solar energy so you can be green while you garden.
Solar powered fountains require no electricity to operate and are powered by solar panels which are attached to a water pump by an electrical cord. These are detachable and can usually be placed anywhere in the fountain you need to depending on its design. The solar panel must obviously be placed in a place where it can have access to direct sunlight. What the solar panel is made up of are solar cells which can trap the sun’s energy and convert it into the energy needed to power your solar water fountain. The entire fountain’s pump and energy system is self-contained. The benefit of that is you are not limited in where you can place your water fountain. In fact, you can put it anywhere there is sunlight as it does not require any wiring to your current electrical system. This also means installation is a breeze because you won’t need to hire an electrician to hook up the wires for you.
Modern solar fountains use advanced technology today and most come with a switch that allows you to turn the water pump on and off. This is a good way to store and collect energy when you are not outside gardening to enjoy the fountain or if you are away for an extended period of time. When it’s time to garden, simply switch on your fountain again to begin enjoying it immediately, fully charged. This is also good for cloudy days when there is insufficient sunlight to power the water fountain.
Other types of solar garden fountains come with rechargeable battery packs that are charged on the side by the solar panels at the same they are powering the fountain pump. This is another way that solar powered fountains can address issues when sunlight is not available. If you like to run your fountain well into the night, then a battery pack is absolutely critical to maintain power.
Solar powered fountains come in a variety of different styles ranging from simple birdbaths to intricate cascading ponds that are layered on top of each other. There are also unique Zen themed fountains like Buddha statue fountains. Regardless of whether you like the serene design of the Asian Zen styled fountains or want something more classical or elegant like a European fountain, there is a design that will suit your garden and style.
The cost of solar fountains can also vary greatly to suit different budgets. The biggest cause for price differences usually comes down to the size of the fountain and the material used to construct it. Common materials you will find at your local garden center are terra cotta, bamboo, resin, or rock like slate.
Going green is a trendy thing to do these days. With a solar powered fountain in your garden, you can enjoy its serene water sound and feel good on the inside that you are doing your part to protect the environment.