The Golden Rules of Solar Sizing a Municipal Park, Trail or Streetlight
Operating profiles. Array-to-load ratios. Depth of discharge. There’s a lot to consider when undertaking a large-scale lighting project and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you don’t “speak solar.” We’re here to help. Whether you’re evaluating specs and components for a specific project or simply seeking to better understand the technology and benefits of off-grid […]
Read MoreUN Climate Action Summit Shows Cities Must Lead the Way
Solving big problems starts by thinking small On September 21–23, 2019, the UN Climate Action Summit took place in New York City, drawing together representatives of government, the private sector, civil society, local authorities, and other international organizations to develop solutions to the climate crisis facing the planet. Many eyes were on 16-year-old Swedish […]
Read MoreWhen Renewable Energy Relieves Grid Demand
When Renewable Energy Relieves Grid Demand California’s inhabitants have seen many dry seasons over the years, but this fall seems especially problematic for residents of the Golden State. Earlier this week, Pacific Gas & Electric stated a condition of unprecedented wildfire danger. Hundreds of thousands of customers were scheduled to lose power in their homes. […]
Read More7 Questions you need to ask before you start your Solar Commercial Lighting Project
When you install a traditional commercial light, you don’t often need to be concerned with whether it will be “bright” enough or will operate continuously because there is an expectation that it will work as specified. You trench, lay cables, connect to the utility, and bam—you have light! However, if avoiding those trenching and utility […]
Read MoreLiving Standard Campaign Calls for Sustainability for All
US Green Building Council strives to expand the green conversation to be more inclusive The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit that strives to transform how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated through the LEED rating system. It advocates for green building that generates both environmental and social benefits for communities. In an […]
Read MoreAmerica Walks Community Change Grants Spark Equitable Change
Grassroots groups make a difference in Portland, Red Bluff, and more At America Walks, the Community Change Grant program is one of the most popular initiatives, offering $1,500 in community stipends to projects across the United States that support healthy, active, and engaging spaces for people to live, work, and play. The awardees work […]
Read MoreWhat Is Resilient Infrastructure?
How Infrastructure Week can open the conversation on building a sustainable future Infrastructure Week, which a US non-profit organization of the same name holds each May, is a week of education and advocacy, bringing together elected leaders, businesses, workers, and citizens to raise awareness and push toward the common goal of improving the nation’s infrastructure. […]
Read MoreThe Science of Sizing
How a properly sized solar lighting system ensures reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness At Sol, our philosophy is to provide a solar light that operates like a regular street light—meaning that we don’t dim the lights in bad weather to make sure we don’t kill the battery. Instead, we properly size our solar lighting systems for […]
Read MoreCan I add solar to an existing street light?
I have an existing electric street light. Can I convert it to run on solar power? The short answer: yes and no. While an electric street light pole might be able to be reused for a solar lighting system, the light fixture itself would need to be replaced to run on solar power. Why can’t […]
Read MoreIncorporating Street Lighting in a Safe Routes to School Initiative
Solar street lighting a smart choice for school crosswalks and parking lots Safe Routes to School is a movement aimed at making it both safer and easier for students to walk and bike to and from school. There are Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs across the United States and Canada with a variety […]
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