| There are a few simple ways to increase your | | | | expensive. |
| home's value without spending too much money. | | | | Many upscale homes have fountains or ponds in |
| While you may not have the money to purchase | | | | their front and back yards. Usually, fountains and |
| a full-sized home solar power system, there are | | | | ponds use pumps that consume a lot of energy. |
| some things you can add to your home's outdoor | | | | A standard pond pump can use 2-3 kWh a day! |
| décor to take advantage of solar | | | | Nowadays, you can choose solar-powered pumps |
| technology. Most of these solutions cost less than | | | | that perform just as well as any pond or fountain |
| $1000 and work just as well as their electric | | | | pump. Specially-designed pond pumps even come |
| counterparts. | | | | equipped with batteries that allow them to |
| An outdoor lighting system is an easy way to add | | | | continue water movement, even at night. These |
| distinction to your home without breaking the | | | | pumps are wonderful alternatives to expensive |
| bank. Before 2001, most outdoor lighting systems | | | | pumps that cost a lot to buy and run on a daily |
| were powered by electricity running through a | | | | basis. |
| small outdoor circuit. With the improvement of | | | | Another tool that's making a scene this summer |
| small solar cells, a new wave of solar-powered | | | | is the solar-powered lawn mower. Over the past |
| outdoor lighting solutions became available to | | | | few years, this concept has been perfected and |
| homeowners. Every summer they get better. | | | | changed as solar technology gets better. There |
| These days, you can choose from hundreds of | | | | are several websites and manuals on turning a |
| outdoor solar lighting designs. They come in | | | | gas mower into a solar mower. This becomes |
| inexpensive plastic to high-quality metal designs. | | | | unnecessary this summer as the Solaris 24V |
| They come in many lighting option, from small | | | | Self-Propelled Lawn Mower becomes readily |
| pathway lights to large feature lighting. You can | | | | available in North America in 2009. This unit can |
| even get these solar lights in different colors, | | | | mow 7500 - 10000 square feet in one charge, |
| from amber to blue LED. | | | | has minimal noise pollution and can be recharged in |
| A great product that's easy to use is the outdoor | | | | three days. If you have an extra large backyard, |
| security light. These handy units come with a | | | | you can buy two sets of batteries and charge |
| separate solar panel you place in the sun (or stick | | | | each one to cut nearly 2 acres! |
| on your roof). You can mount the light fixture | | | | Until you can get a full residential solar power |
| anywhere, including in the shade, as long as you | | | | system, you should look into these easy to use |
| have the panel in sunlight. A thin wire connects | | | | inexpensive solar alternatives. You'll cut your |
| the two separate units. These units are great for | | | | electric bill during those hot summer months, and |
| older homes that have no outside wiring, or for | | | | you'll be making a positive impact on the global |
| homes in which wiring would be too difficult or | | | | environment. |