Eneref Ecologically sensible ideas for commercial and industrial facilities

The future of highway illumination

One solar technology company in the United States might offer a glimpse of light on the future of highway illumination. SolarOne Solutions (www.solarone.net) of Massachusetts is the first company to offer a solar-powered LED light fixture powerful enough to viably replace traditional, hard wired road lighting.

Although, not yet on major highways, SolarOne Solutions fixtures are beginning to show up as outdoor streetlights in the US in front of government buildings, as monument tower lights, as park pathway lights and as parking lot lighting. The turning point for SolarOne Solution’s street lighting came recently with the largest installation of solar-powered LED fixtures at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, the oldest such school in the US. The Maritime Academy is an environmentally progressive facility so it’s no surprise the school chose to install 73 of SolarOne’s solar-powered LED streetlights.

The Academy’s primary goal was to upgrade the existing campus lighting and reduce areas of insufficient lighting. The older fixtures had yellowed acrylic lenses. The school wanted low pole heights, decorative entrance fixtures and white lighting.

The fixtures are powered by photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert light energy into electrical energy. The system receives all its power from the sun. What sets these fixtures apart is a technology called SO-Bright that makes them far more efficient and reliable, ensuring that the lights are always on at night, regardless of cloudy days or long winter nights.

Of course solar-powered lights eliminate electricity bills, but various incentives and tax credits in the US from utilities as well as from local, state and federal agencies help fund projects. Eneref Group maintains a list of the various solar associations, many of which provide information to navigate the complex world of government and non-government funding.