While solar lights may seem like an appealing, eco-friendly option for Christmas decorations due to their automatic operation and zero impact on energy bills, they come with significant drawbacks. Lighting expert Dara Greaney highlights five key issues that make solar Christmas lights unreliable: they require extensive sunlight to charge, which is difficult during the winter months; their battery performance decreases in cold weather; snow can block sunlight from reaching the panels; their versatility is limited due to the need for direct sunlight; and they are generally more expensive than traditional utility lights. Instead of solar lights, Greaney recommends using traditional LED or battery-operated lights for a dependable and festive display that won’t be affected by the weather.