Energy Advice

Welcome to our energy advice column. Here we summarize publicly available information on the many ways you can save money on your energy bills as well as general topics on renewable energy. We try to keep our advice short and to the point.

SOLAR FLASHLIGHTS

Maybe you’ve had this experience. There’s been a power outage, you finally find the flashlight you’ve stored away for such occasions, and you discover that the batteries don’t work. You wonder if there are batteries tucked away in the fridge, but you need a candle to see if they are there. You find the candle, but no cold batteries.

There are new flashlights called “shake” lights that provide a quick charge by simply shaking them. If all you need is a little bit of light on a moment’s notice, they are a good solution

But if you're looking for a long lasting emergency or portable light source, we suggest that you consider purchasing a solar flashlight. These flashlights come either with an LED bulb or a standard bulb. A small solar panel built right into the body makes it a complete, self-charging unit. The flashlights include rechargeable batteries and, naturally, the solar panel keeps them charged at all times. You can leave them on a windowsill that gets sunlight during the day and forget about them.

When you need the flashlight, you simply take it and use it. When you're done, you put it back on the sill. The batteries remain charged for years. You will never have to look for batteries again. Also, disposal batteries are a big environmental problem; solar flashlights help reduce landfill pollution.

You can expect to get a good 4-5 hours of light before recharging (that is, before you need to place it in the sun). A good day of sun usually recharges the batteries fully.

There’s another plus to solar flashlights: LEDs are brighter and last longer than regular bulbs. LEDs have a very narrow light beam, while regular bulbs have a much wider beam. (This is also why LEDs can do serious eye damage if pointed directly into the eyes.)

The price of these flashlights is comparable, if not lower, than many traditional flashlights.

Whichever flashlight you choose—shake or solar—you will soon get hooked on the many shapes, sizes, and colors available. Some have other features, such as a radio, an emergency beacon, or a loud buzzer. However, it’s always a good idea to keep it simple.