Small Solar

There are lots of solar ways to save money. Not everything has to be a big project that requires set up and people, some things are just simple and easy and anyone can do them, some very inexpensive.

Witch note:
Before I start to tout a new product (we don't sell these) let me say that we went through the whole solar yard light thing that you could find in every hardware store. They are pure crap. First if you have a dog forget it, puppy finds those little cheap plastic lights easily accessible and quite satisfying to chew on. They put out a nasty color light and last about a minute. Failed experiment.

I was looking for a solution to a problem we have with lighting on our outbuilding where we park our cars. I have been driving Chris crazy about it because he refuses to let me keep lights on when we go out at night, "costs too much" he says. So I started begging for solar lighting which is also a pain because it requires installation and getting it here.
Cruising through the isles of Amazon I came upon a little light. It is solar and it is motion sensor. It was not what I had in mind, I guess I was looking for solar string lights.This one is small and very simple and it was not a string light, it was one little unit made of aluminum. Light on the bottom,     solar panel on top, screw to wall, done.
link to lights...

http://www.amazon.com/Frostfire-Wireless-Weatherproof-batteries-required/dp/B0074KDGL4/ref=sr_1_3?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1438527107&sr=1-3&keywords=solar+motion+light

Soft light, bright light.

Additional Note: I hate motion lights. They come on every minute and don't seem to work when you need them. I find these little lights have a very direct motion detector, no blowing trees across the road are going to cause them to come on.

We got three to give it a go. One next to the charging station and vehicle. One on the steps to upstairs and one on the lower gate into the compound.
Amazing, simply amazing. not only do they work, they work great! Screw it to the wall, let it charge up during the day and as soon as it gets the slightest bit dark, they come on. The light is soft, you would not even notice it until you come within range. Suddenly it brightens up like a warm welcome. Walk away, it politely waits till you are out of range and goes back to soft. Fantastic, it solved three problems instantly. Of course you must pay attention to where the sun is and make sure it has a portion of the day in sunlight. As long as there is sun, you are charging. As long as it is dark, you have a lovely light when you need it.
Speaking of string lights, I got some of those too. I wanted to have a twinkly garden at night just cause it looks good. Found two types on Amazon. Very inexpensive. One variety has small lights some bright and some not so bright pleasant color temperature. Lovely effect in the trees. The other is like tiny glass balls on a string. Both do a great job of creating a nice lighting effect using only the sun to charge.
It is nice to have a constant lighting arrangement that comes on every evening and charges every day without any thought or any cost. You can get very creative with your outside space if you know your lighting is self contained, requires no extra wiring and is very inexpensive.
I got one string a few  months ago and it is working just fine. Now I have decorated a portion of the yard and as I go I get more creative with the arrangement.
Good fun and inexpensive.

I will take a better pic but you get the idea.