A brief analysis of the factors considered in the

Solar LED outdoor: a brief analysis of design and application considerations and application examples

in the past decade, we have seen that renewable energy technology and practice are gradually entering our daily life. It integrates into our society and provides subtle differences for daily life such as cars, thermostats, and even controls. On a larger scale, we see geothermal energy used in large buildings, rainwater collection and recycling, and even solar energy that is not connected to electricity. In fact, the efficiency provided brings new life to solar energy. Here, we will introduce the benefits and challenges of implementation

solar outdoor lighting has stood out from other technologies, which not only provides necessary lighting for our daily life, but also reminds facility users and others nearby to consider sustainability in facility design. When illuminated, solar outdoor lighting can "communicate" and transmit information about environmental management to relevant companies and organizations, builders, developers and lighting designers, which are beneficial

due to the progress of solar panels, batteries and LED technology, commercial solar outdoor lighting is now more reliable than parallel systems, and provides higher quality lighting at a lower cost. In fact, the cost of solar outdoor lighting benefits from the synergy of technological innovation in three key areas:

the cost of solar panels has fallen: the American Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) pointed out that in recent years, the cost of photovoltaic panels has fallen sharply, and has fallen by 60% since the beginning of 2011

improvement of battery technology: the growth of hybrid electric vehicle and electric vehicle market has improved battery technology and produced compact, efficient and more durable rechargeable batteries

led efficiency improvement: LED lighting efficiency is also improving, which means that using less power can produce more light, or higher efficiency (higher lumens per watt), which is equivalent to the same lighting output cost reduction

due to these trends, commercial solar outdoor lighting is now more economical than in many cases. This includes the remote or non-existent situation of the existing power infrastructure, such as the surrounding safety and green space construction, or the unwillingness to change the existing roads or landscapes (such as parking lots, roads, outdoor storage areas, parks, amusement parks and campuses). In these cases, the installation of solar LED lighting system can be achieved immediately, and the trenching, wiring and other costs associated with the installation of new lighting system can be avoided. In addition, using solar energy, there will be no electricity bills within the service life of more than 25 years, which can save costs in the coming decades

however, for many companies and organizations that choose solar LED lighting, cost savings are often second, and using green energy is more advantageous. Because commercial solar outdoor lights do not age and loosen parts, which is a problem caused by the long-term use of equipment. They use fossil fuels and do not produce carbon dioxide emissions, so they have achieved their commitment to protecting the environment and national energy security

many companies and organizations use commercial solar outdoor lighting to achieve the sustainability goals set by the Institute for sustainable development infrastructure (ISI) evaluation system. Solar LED lights can also be used to meet the sustainability goals of specific buildings, meet the "corporate society" (CSR) goals, or earn points from the LEED program of the U.S. Green Building Council. Through solar LED lighting, every lamp has become a small advertisement of environmental protection, which can not be achieved by traditional marketing tools, because it is using action rather than words to express commitment

design a sustainable system

although technical problems need to be solved when considering commercial solar outdoor lighting systems, the design of the system can be summed up in three aspects:

how much light is needed

how much solar energy can be collected

when do I need lighting

on the first question, many companies, organizations and governments are surprised by the clear and high-quality light provided by high-throughput led in solar outdoor lighting applications. In addition, the new LED technology can enhance control, greatly reduce spillage and glare, and provide more effective lighting distribution. For example, traditional high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps or metal halide lamps (MH) form light patterns directly below the lamps, while LED can project light in a wider and more uniform pattern, which can produce continuous light flow along the road but due to its unique low price and large tonnage characteristics, and allow the maximum polar distance, which reduces the cost

as for the question of "how much solar energy", the amount of solar energy is measured by "equivalent sunshine hours". The maximum (or 100%) sunlight received by the solar panel in an hour is equal to a complete sunshine hour. Although the sun may exceed the horizon for 14 hours a day at a specific location, the amount of full sunlight may be as little as six hours a day due to the angle of sunlight and the loss in the atmosphere. In order to achieve the expected performance of the system, the design needs to be based on the minimum sunshine time available. For this reason, solar LED lights are usually designed for each specific project. However, since commercial solar outdoor lighting usually has enough battery power to supply light for at least five nights, the system can operate effectively in all daylight environments

the last problem is to define how to control the lighting system. Different from traditional commercial outdoor lighting, LED provides more flexibility in control. In addition to setting the on/off time, the LED also allows dimming and using the motion sensor to turn off the light (or turn the light from light to dark) when no one is present

these factors will affect the size of solar panels, batteries, lamps, and the number of poles required, thereby affecting the cost. Investing time to understand the specific local needs and any applicable local laws and regulations can greatly save design costs. To ensure that you design a system that meets your expectations, it is best to seek the advice of lighting consultants or experienced solar lighting manufacturers

to ensure that you design a system that meets your expectations, it is wise to seek the advice of lighting consultants or experienced solar lighting manufacturers

use outdoor solar LED lighting in public spaces

parks, paths and amusement parks are places residents are willing to go, because their design is functional, beautiful and safe. Solar outdoor lighting provides higher security in the form of an attractive and easy to install system, while also demonstrating innovative technologies to reduce costs and environmental impact. Next, we will introduce some projects that meet these standards

sol, Inc cooperates with Discovery Bay, California (which is also the largest airliner made by Boeing), to design and deploy solar LED lighting for Cornell park. Residents choose solar energy instead of traditional lighting, because environmental benefits and early-stage costs are low. Solar LED lamps produce zero greenhouse gas emissions, and the cost is less than half of the cost of lamp merging, especially the cost of infrastructure. Lighting devices alone saved more than $80000 in early installation costs. In addition, the town will not have to pay electricity bills during the 25 year service life of the system

the operation and maintenance cost is also very low, because it can last for up to years, saving the cost of replacing bulbs required by traditional commercial outdoor lighting, as well as the personnel who replace bulbs. Due to the positive effect of Cornell Park, Discovery Bay is exploring new community centers that also use commercial solar outdoor lighting

create sustainable development on campus

some colleges and universities have also become more environmentally friendly, adopting low-carbon products and sustainable practices. By setting an example, these institutions are choosing strategies to reduce their carbon footprint, raising students' and alumni's awareness of environmental protection needs, and providing materials for sustainability courses

specifically, universities are increasingly using commercial solar outdoor lighting as a low-cost and sustainable solution to campus lighting needs. By implementing solar lighting, university administrators can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions

Indian River State College, located in Fort Pierce, Florida, covers 87 acres and has more than 17000 students. In 2012, it built a new brown innovation and entrepreneurship center. The college requires its design to reflect the two missions of the building: to prepare students for careers in emerging technologies, especially in energy related fields; and to accommodate start-ups that strive to create jobs in these industries

the brown center, built according to LEED standards, has many green features in its design, including a solar power station, which generates one third of the electricity for the building. However, a cost-effective green lighting solution is needed at the entrance of the building. In order to meet this demand, the college uses Sol's 20/20 solar LED lighting system, so that the center can maintain green information inside and outside, and students can experience the real application of the energy technology they are learning (Figure 1)

Figure 1 The entrance to the brown center at Indian River State College provides a prominent sustainability message

although Saul donated the solar LED lighting system of brown center, most universities will purchase solar lamps as a cost-effective, pioneering and green product to replace traditional outdoor lighting

Odessa college and City University of New Jersey

Odessa college in Texas chose to install solar LED lighting instead of traditional combined lights to ensure the safety of students and staff walking on campus (Figure 2). Since there is no wiring and trenching costs associated with the installation of traditional lights, Odessa college can save 20% of the initial costs and $8000 per year in power costs

Figure 2 Due to the use of solar energy, Odessa college can save 20% of the initial installation cost

City University of New Jersey uses commercial solar outdoor lighting on the terrace of its new student union to help achieve the sustainable development goals of the campus (Figure 3). Another attraction is that solar LED lights can continue to operate in severe weather conditions such as hurricanes. For example, the hurricane once caused a large-scale power outage in the University. In 2013, the Federal Ministry of education and research and the Federal Ministry of economy and technology put forward the new concept of "industry 4.0" in Germany. In the case of power failure or power restriction caused by snowstorm or electrical failure, the ability to continue to light up is a great advantage

Figure 3 City University of New Jersey has installed solar LED lighting on the balcony of the student union building, and it is expected that the lighting can operate in events such as hurricanes

in the next few years, in many applications, commercial solar outdoor lighting can be economically replaced and the technical trend of lighting will continue to accelerate, making solar energy more and more economical. We expect that solar outdoor lighting will become the norm soon, using high-quality, clean renewable energy to illuminate the night