I’ve had this item for nearly a year. We live in Houston. It has southern exposure With no damage or fading. It provides a nice warm glow for the patio. It cannot be used for a task light or safety light per se, but it does add ambience. The flame almost imitates a real candle with no damage or fading. Update still looked great after a year, until the kid took it apart like Macgyver to make an "invention." Would buy again.