I want to get my parents some solar powered lights for the garden path in their new house.

The lights need to be bright enough for my mum to see where she is going but I know they won't like anything trendy looking or with funky colored lights. If I can't find any lights which are just plain white then I am wondering if it is possible to take the filters around the bulb out and put something clear in its place.

I don't really want to have to take the lights apart but if that's the only solution then that's what I will do. Surely it can't be hard to find outdoor lights that are just nice and plain?

I have a horse and we need to put an electrified fence up round part of our yard. I don't really want to run a power cable all the way from my house out to the horse area so I thought a solar powered fence would be a good alternative.

If I could get a solar system that has enough power to run some sort of water heater for part of the year so I can keep the ice away from their drinking water that would be good to know about as well.

I want some sort of solar power kit that I can just buy, haul home and install myself without having to pay a company to come out and do anything at all.

I want to install some solar panels on my house, I like the idea that I am helping the environment as well as saving some money on my electricity bills every month. I am not sure we would be able to totally do without the power company but it would be nice to save some money.

How do I decide which solar power kit is right for my home?

Is there any independent body or group who can advise me, I don't fully trust anyone who is going to be making money if I buy the kit from them. I don't mind paying for someone to come round and do some estimates for me as to how much electricity I will need.