Cold winter weather
is on its way out, and your neglected outdoor spaces need some attention and
revitalization. Your beautiful patio, balcony, yard, or garden has seen better
days, but as the warm weather arrives, you may want to spend more time outside. In the spirit of the outdoors, get your outdoor spaces ready for the
new season by following environmentally friendly practices. Using eco-friendly
fuels, like propane, in grills and adding local plants are
two simple environmentally friendly ways to spruce up your outdoor space. By
putting some love, care, and elbow grease into fixing your outdoor area, you
can create a wonderful outdoor haven in time for Spring while being kind to the
planet.
Fire Pits and Outdoor Grills
The American Society of Landscape Architects found
in a 2018 survey that fire pits were one of the most sought after outdoor
features, and it is easy to see why. Relaxing around a fire pit with friends
and family on a summer night is an idyllic setting that almost anyone can
recreate in their backyard. Centering your outdoor space around a fire pit is
also a good way to create a focal point and increase visual cohesion. Ambitious
decorators or DIY enthusiasts can build a custom fire pit to perfectly
complement their unique outdoor space, but most people will opt to buy a
pre-made fire pit. There are many models of manufactured fire pits that you can
order online and have delivered to your door, but when selecting a fire pit,
you must consider what type of fuel it uses.
Wood, propane, and
natural gas are the predominant fire pits fuels, but propane is the greenest
and most common option. Propane is not only an environmentally friendly fuel,
but it is also easy to access as most gas stations and grocery stores sell
propane tanks. Propane tanks can also be swapped into other appliances like
outdoor grills.
Outdoor grills
bring the kitchen outside and create new cooking possibilities. The fire pit
might be a staple of summer nights, but the outdoor grill is central to the
picturesque midday summer cookout. Outdoor grills come in a variety of sizes,
so there will always be a grill that fits in your outdoor space. Just like with
fire pits, you must consider what fuel your grill uses, but the decision is
even more important, as your fuel choice can affect the flavor of your food.
Charcoal, natural
gas, propane, wood, and electricity are the primary fuel types for grills, but
the Hearth Patio
and Barbecue Association reports that propane grills are the most
popular by far. Devout grillers note that propane leaves food less flavorful
than charcoal, but the difference is not enough to deter the vast majority of
grillers. Propane-powered grills share the same benefits of propane-power fire
pits, as propane tanks are cheap, easy to find, and can be swapped between
similar propane-powered appliances.
Solar Lights
The sun will
illuminate your outdoor space a large portion of the time, but not 100% of the
time. Spending time in your outdoor space when it is overcast or nighttime may
leave you stumbling around in the dark. Adding outdoor lighting not only increases
the functionality of your space, but it also brings a warm whimsical feeling to
the area.
When most people
think of outdoor lights, they imagine a lamppost, a wall-mounted sconce, or
hanging string lights. Traditionally, all these lights require power cables to
supply electricity and running outdoor cables is a major hassle. Solar
outdoor lights have solved that problem while being eco-friendly, as
solar lights do not consume grid electricity and instead generate their own
power. Almost any style of outdoor light is available in a solar-powered
variant, even string lights.
Solar lights rely
on a small solar panel to generate energy to power the light bulb. Most solar
lights have a solar panel on top of the light bulb housing which is on top of a
ground stake that lets you place the light anywhere that receives sunlight.
Solar string lights are connected to a ground stake-mounted solar panel at one
end of the string leaving you free to drape the lights wherever you see fit.
Solar lights also
give you the freedom to place lights without worrying about running cables, but
you do need to worry about sunlight. Solar lights must absorb sunlight
throughout the day to generate enough energy to power the light after dark.
Strategically place your solar lights so they absorb enough sunlight during the
day while illuminating the desired areas at night.
Revamping your
outdoor space in time for Spring is a great opportunity to add eco-friendly elements.
If you add a fire pit or a grill, look for propane-powered models. Save time,
money, headache, and the environment by installing solar lights instead of
wired outdoor lights.
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