Case study January 2025
Crossville, AL
Crossville, AL has an impressive number of recreational facilities for its size. Recently installed solar lights at a walking track allow it to be used safely after dark and throughout the seasons.
Crossville, AL is a small place. So named for the many roads that converge and carry on toward bigger cities like Birmingham, Huntsville, and Chattanooga, the town occupies just eight square miles and is home to roughly 1,800 people.
Despite its small size, the town boasts a variety of public recreational facilities, including a public library, swimming pool, multiple baseball and softball fields, and a paved walking track. Most are located within Crossville Town Park on the east side of town.
While the sports fields have floodlights that make evening practices and games possible, the popular walking track does not. After sunset—which happens as early as 4:30 in winter—the track is dark, uninviting, and unsafe, something the Town Council wanted to change.
The problem was, they didn’t have the budget for conventional sports lighting, which can cost up to $70,000 for a new system (before utility costs). They began exploring other options and quickly discovered that solar could match the output and reliability of conventional lights but at a much-reduced price.
Having no previous experience with the technology, they turned to the internet for help. That’s where they found Sol—and another company that offered seemingly similar but ultimately very different solar lighting solutions.
The main difference was the number of systems required to illuminate the track. While Sol proposed 11 of its robust all-in-one iSSL Maxi Road lights, the other company said it would need almost double that to meet the target light levels.
The reason: Sol uses high-efficacy fixtures from top-tier manufacturers that provide high light output with low power, meaning systems effectively provide more light per pole than competitors. Additionally, Sol recommended using motion-detecting sensors that trigger the lights to brighten when people are present (and conserve energy when they aren’t).
Being able to meet the spec with fewer systems meant the total project costs were significantly less with Sol than the competition. The Council was also impressed with Sol’s online reviews and pre-sales consultation. They placed their order in January 2024, and the lights were installed a few months later.
“The whole process was a breeze and we would highly recommend Sol,” said Crossville Court Clerk Kathryn King. “We are extremely impressed with the lighting at the park. It is a great asset for our town!”
