Look, Ma, No Wires – and a New Business Opportunity
Chuck Ross
Lighting without wires – that’s the promise solar-powered security lighting offers homeowners. If you’re an electrical contractor, you might see that lack of wires as a threat to your installation business – after all, if there aren’t any wires, why would customers turn to you for help? This could be a shortsighted approach, though, especially as the technology continues to improve. If you’re hoping to build a brand for your company based on expertise in energy efficiency and green-energy options, adding these products to your catalog would be a smart move.
Solar lighting has improved significantly since the first fixtures designed for illuminating walkways and plantings first came to market a decade or so ago. With today’s high-efficiency LEDs and improved batteries, lighting manufacturers have been able to develop fixtures that can last through the night’s darkest hours, especially when fixtures are paired with motion sensors to control on/off operations. And, with no dependency on wired power, the lights will keep working even during utility outages.
A certain segment of the DIY market may see wireless lighting as way to save on installation costs, many homeowners still would prefer to have a professional who understands light placement – and who isn’t afraid of ladders – to do this work for them. And incorporating these fixtures into a portfolio of exterior solar lighting offerings – including pathway, landscape and wallpack fixtures – could help you put together a full package for customers seeking an exterior lighting upgrade for their home and yard. The expertise they’re looking for in such projects is in lighting, not just wires.
Solar lighting has improved significantly since the first fixtures designed for illuminating walkways and plantings first came to market a decade or so ago. With today’s high-efficiency LEDs and improved batteries, lighting manufacturers have been able to develop fixtures that can last through the night’s darkest hours, especially when fixtures are paired with motion sensors to control on/off operations. And, with no dependency on wired power, the lights will keep working even during utility outages.
A certain segment of the DIY market may see wireless lighting as way to save on installation costs, many homeowners still would prefer to have a professional who understands light placement – and who isn’t afraid of ladders – to do this work for them. And incorporating these fixtures into a portfolio of exterior solar lighting offerings – including pathway, landscape and wallpack fixtures – could help you put together a full package for customers seeking an exterior lighting upgrade for their home and yard. The expertise they’re looking for in such projects is in lighting, not just wires.
Photo courtesy of Westinghouse Lighting
