There is no better way to become eco-friendly than to invest in either solar lighting or a solar power system, but the benefits for going solar are much deeper than any environmentally responsible feelings you may have or the cost savings that these types of systems provide.
The first benefit is cost-effectiveness. Once installed, solar implementation costs nothing to run. All of its energy is drawn from the sun, and that means free energy for your commercial application. And if you are worried about the initial cost of installation, there are several tax credits and grants available from the government that can be used to substantially lessen the initial cost. Just install and let the sun provide the power you require without worries when sized properly.
Since solar energy has no moving parts, maintenance to keep any solar lighting or powered device is greatly reduced. All solar panels are self-contained and need no upkeep to keep them functioning at peak efficiency. The new LED fixtures last virtually forever, so they rarely or never need to be changed throughout the life of the system.
Even battery technology has advanced in leaps and bounds. This allows the batteries to last for years in the field and not need a yearly replacement like older technologies. As long as the system is sized to have around 2500+ cycles or a maximum of 20% depth of discharge, systems are now designed to last five-plus years in the field. All of these factors combined result in far less maintenance than a conventional power and lighting system, and that adds up to less cost for you.
The biggest factor is safety and security. Since solar power and lighting systems are all self-contained, there are no wires that will become dangerous if exposed. Parking lights or street lights that are damaged or run over will never have live and potentially deadly electrical wires exposed. Building lights will keep areas illuminated even in power outages, and if you invest in a solar power system, security lighting, and perimeter cameras will always be functional. Even such things as electrically solar-powered gates will open for any emergency situation.
Modern solar lighting or power systems are cutting-edge technology that is cost-effective to install and is cost-effective to use. They provide a safety margin that is second to none over any other type of electrical-powered equipment, even those that are powered by portable generators.
For any commercial application, solar energy is the way to go now, and for the future, that can be installed or retrofitted economically with government incentives. It will make your business, municipality, or township eco-friendly, it will allow you to conform to the latest governmental regulations, it will lower your energy bills, and it will always be a safer alternative to a grid-wired electrical system.