There's a light, certain kinda light

A garden shed, in the pitch dark, now there's an accident waiting to happen. No wait a minute, you're not supposed to call that an 'accident' if it can be prevented.
Well call me Mr. Precaution, with a capital P: finally, after all these years of bumbling around, taking chances of stepping on a hoe in the dark or tripping headlong onto sharp tines. Once again, new solar technology has come to the rescue.
I had seen these things advertised before in the great-God-almighty-it's-this-week's-flyers. One of the hardware stores has solar lights for out-buildings, where it's inconvenient to supply an electrical connection.
That would describe our shed. Exclusively for storage, I enter only to locate an implement then exit to put it to use. The problem is, you swing open the door and if there's a breeze it swings shut, leaving you in the dark. If you want to find something at night you need your trusty flashlight.
So I was thrilled recently to see the solar shed light on sale: yet another item on the shopping list I have in my head. We got on this roll several years ago with the installation of a solar heating system. It's for hot water, with any surplus energy available for space heating. And it ain't about to stop there, not as long there's a sun in the sky and nuclear winter hasn't set in. They'll have to pry this solarvoltaic panel out of my cold, dead hands.
Maybe that's a little extreme, but you get the idea of my zeal.
Next stop, I'm hoping to have a panel hooked up to recharge our small backup electrical system -- good to have around for when the tropical storms hit.
Another thing I have in mind somewhere down the road is to get rid of the gas lawnmower in favour of one powered by battery. Buy two batteries, so one can be on standby recharging. I'm hoping it would be not too much trouble to rig up a panel for that.
Just think, no more nasty fumes, no expensive fuel, no risking shoulder dislocation with the pull start, no ear protection needed -- just the pleasant hum of an electrical motor, power compliments of the sun.
There's no limit: all the things we can get these days and recharge. We'd have to get a little one for camping to power up the laptop and cellphones. Or, perhaps not, I'm more so a neanderthal-style camper. But it's nice to know the possibility exists.
Anyway, the light we purchased was easy to install. Just mount the panel using the supplied bracket. A wire goes to the light, which I attached to a roof joist, and presto. The light comes with LED bulbs: bright and energy-efficient. The panel has plenty of swivel capability to more fully take advantage of the path of the sun.
It might not be a spotlight, but it beats ebon darkness.
If we're fully satisfied, the plan is to get one for the carport. Have it there soaking up energy through the day and aim the light toward the door, a friendly, hassle-free welcome home at night.
I've heard reports that we're on the threshold of some major breakthroughs in solar technology. That's hugely promising, and there's a related thought I've lately pondered. If we see a boom worldwide in the number of panels and devices soaking up the sun's rays -- to be converted into other forms of energy -- would that also help temper the threatened rise in Earth's temperatures? A heat sink, as it were.
I mean, that's way too deep for me. I'd have to consult a geophysicist on that one. But it would be quite the fringe benefit -- in addition to cutting down on fossil fuel use.
But, one step at a time. If nothing else, this stuff keeps me endlessly amused.