A Fountain Made of Sunlight
Photo credit: Heavens Solar
Nothing brings a landscape to life more than the combination of growing plants and flowing water. Ponds, fountains, waterfalls, and other water features bring the intoxicating sound of rushing water to your backyard, as well as a place for fish and thirsty birds to thrive. There’s just one catch; all of those water features require a pump to make that water flow, to create that ambient joy and prevent stagnation.
Traditionally that pump was somehow connected to a nearby power outlet, drawing electricity from the house and ultimately the electric grid. That can get expensive, not to mention contribute to an over-stressed grid and the propensity of fossil fuels. Fortunately, the small pumps necessary to run a fountain are perfect candidates for solar power.
One solar panel can easily handle the loads needed to run the pump, which presents a number of advantages:
- You never have to turn the pump off to save power.
- Savings on electricity bills and for the electric grid.
- No wiring to run over distances.
- The environment does not suffer.
- Solar pumps with batteries are available so your fountain can run at night.
- Solar panels can power both accent lighting and pump.
There are solar fountains manufactured with panels built in as well, but these somewhat limit your freedom because they must be placed in the sunshine. Remote solar water pumps are advantageous because the pump and fountain can be placed anywhere, and only the panel need be placed in optimal sunlight.
Solar fountain or pond pumps are no longer difficult to come by. Silicon Solar, for one, has several models and parts available. Full solar fountain kits range from about $100 to $200, including those with battery storage and lighting.
Posted on July 7th in Solar Products by Dan.