(openPR) – U.S Green Technology Opportunities Expand Internationally as SolarOne® Solutions Ships “Zero-Carbon” Streetlights to Masdar.

© Image by solarone.net. Solar Street Lights. SolarOne® Shoebox Series (LOS).

The world’s first completely zero-carbon footprint city, Masdar, located in the United Arab Emirates, will use solar powered LED streetlights purchased from Massachusetts-based technology company SolarOne Solutions to illuminate its roadways. Solar powered streetlights that illuminate the roadway at night are powered by sunlight during the day. The SolarOne lights were selected after engineers evaluated solar-powered fixtures from several world-class manufacturers. After a sandstorm and several cloudy days, only the lights from SolarOne Solutions remained lit. This success was the result of an intelligent management system, called SO-Bright®, which is “designed to ride through several days of inclement weather”, according to Moneer Azzam, President of SolarOne. Philip Parker, Commercial Director of Al Jaber Energy Service Group, the company that installed the lights, said that his company was “delighted that we were able to offer Masdar a sustainable lighting solution…at a savings.”
For the first time ever, 50,000 people and 1,500 commercial businesses will inhabit a 6.3 square km. completely carbon neutral community. SolarOne Solutions is bringing first light to the fledgling city and vision of Masdar, with solar powered LED streetlights providing the lighting for the roadway surrounding the community, as well as for the driveway and parking lots at the Masdar site offices.
With the construction of this sustainable city comes the growth of green companies worldwide, including SolarOne Solutions, which doubled in size last year.
Even though the streetlamps traveled to the Middle East from Massachusetts, the fixtures started arriving on site within eight weeks from the initial order. And, because SolarOne streetlights operate completely independent of any electrical grid, they were illuminating the roadway shortly thereafter. This is confirmed by Parker, who says that “by using solar lights we’ve managed to get rid of all the underground cabling and ducting…which was excellent, and meant we could install the solar lights a lot quicker than traditional lights…as a result we were able to deliver savings to Masdar”. The color and uniformity of the SolarOne broad spectrum LED lighting represents a significant departure from the intense, yellow High Pressure Sodium lights that light up Abu Dhabi roadways, offering a more attractive, broad, white light for enhanced visual comfort, using just a fraction of the energy.

© Image by solarone.net. Solar Street Lights. SolarOne® Shoebox Series (LOS).

About SolarOne:
SolarOne® Solutions, Inc. (“SolarOne”) is the leader in commercial-scale solar-powered LED lighting systems. The company combines highly efficient LED lamps, with its patent-pending SO-Bright® technology, to provide performance and reliability at levels comparable to commercial grid-connected lighting. With systems operating in a wide range of environmental conditions since 2004, SolarOne established itself as the first to develop and deploy solar powered area lighting systems using white LED technology. Today, SolarOne and its SO-Bright® Technology is the choice of many well established municipalities and institutions including the City of Toronto, City of Los Angeles, United State Air Force and Massachusetts Maritime Academy. SolarOne and its SO-Bright® Technology has also been chosen as the solar lighting partner by several major lighting and shelter companies, including Philips Lighting and Provincial Sign systems, and has representation across North America and the UAE.

© Image by solarone.net. Solar Street Lights. SolarOne® Shoebox Series (LOS).

About Masdar Initiative:
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is investing in long-term strategic development of sustainable future energy technologies. The Masdar Initiative, driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, is a global stage for world-wide cooperation and engagement in developing solutions for: energy security, climate change and the development of human expertise in sustainability. The city is planned to cover 6.3 sq km. and will be home to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses, primarily commercial and manufacturing facilities specializing in environmentally-friendly products, and more than 60,000 workers are expected to commute to the city daily.

About Gargash Lighting Systems L.L.C.:
GLS is one of the leading lighting companies in the Gulf region based in Dubai and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the well known Gargash Group of companies that has been in existence for over 50 years. GLS represents some of the well known lighting companies of the world. Gargash Lighting Systems LLC (GLS) has a team of well qualified and experienced professionals who have expertise in various disciplines of lighting and lighting control systems from concept design through installation. In addition to the Masdar project, the GLS team has to its credit some of the most prestigious in the UAE including the Shams Abu Dhabi, Atlantis, Dubai Metro, Abu Dhabi shopping mall, Emirates Headquarters Building, Dubai. GLS recently announced a joint venture with the Al Fahim Group in Abu Dhabi that will go by the name of Marjan Lighting Systems (MLS) dedicated to serving the Abu Dhabi area with lighting solutions.

SolarOne® deploys Lighting and Harvester systems across the globe for a wide range of applications and customers that include major college campuses, government laboratories and municipalities.

SolarOne® lights operate independent of the electric grid, relying on a solar panel for their power source. This ensures that they will remain lit, even during grid-connected power shortages. Additionally, their independent power source enables them to be sited flexibly and installed easily, without incurring the significant expenses of trenching and repaving. SolarOne Solutions offers SolarOne® overhead lights for pathways, sidewalks, parking lots, and bus shelters.

Article by Bob Havard.
From www.openpr.com.

Sol, Inc. donation allows hospitals, food distribution, and relief camps to operate past dusk.

© Image by Galen R Frysinger.

PALM CITY, Fla., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Millions of dollars of relief may never reach Haitians in time unless roadways, relief camps, hospitals and distribution areas can operate past dark.

Donating $300,000 and organizing relief efforts for Haiti, Sol, Inc. is no stranger to the effect solar lights have on safety and security. With over 40,000 solar lighting systems installed in over 60 countries on six continents, Sol, Inc. CEO Rick Schuett knew that the Sol, Inc. team had the expertise and desire to make a real difference.

“The Board of Directors chaired by Michael Sonnenfeldt, along with Sol, Inc. employees felt compelled to assist the victims of this earthquake,” said Rick Schuett, CEO of Sol, Inc. “We know that once our solar lighting systems are installed, we will effectively double the amount of available relief effort time by allowing aid workers and rescuers to work around the clock when previously operations had to cease at dusk. In addition, our lighting systems will provide safety and security as well as being a hallmark that civility is being restored to the area.”

The total donation is expected to exceed $400,000 with assistance from suppliers, donations and a solar light matching program.

Facilitating the assistance to Haiti is not a small task.

Sol, Inc. is working with Florida Congressman Rooney’s Stuart office, several relief agencies and government agencies to transport the solar lights from Florida and get them installed in Haiti as quickly as possible. Missionary Flights International – http://www.missionaryflights.org – based in Ft. Piece has graciously agreed to fly some of the solar lighting systems as well as Sol, Inc. volunteers. Sol, Inc. is working with other relief organizations such as World Vision – http://www.worldvision.org , Unicef – http://www.unicef.org and Hands On Disaster Response – http://www.hodr.org to coordinate the installation, local logistics and security for the traveling team.

© Image by Nick Hobgood. Overlooking Port-au-Prince.

In addition, Sol, Inc. is dispatching a 44′ catamaran donated by local entrepreneur Deane Blazie of Jupiter Island, which is scheduled to leave late Sunday or Monday (depending on weather). The boat will remain in Haiti for the next several weeks providing ground support and logistics.

Several of Sol, Inc.’s suppliers have generously donated time and materials including Alliance Composites Inc., C & L Technologies, Citizen Electronics, Haze Battery U.S.A., Karl Lust and SPOSTO Interactive, allowing Sol, Inc. to increase the number of solar light systems that will be available to the relief efforts.

“Our efforts will continue,” said Schuett. “If you or your organization would like to donate money, medical supplies, water or equipment, please contact us immediately. Sol, Inc. is also actively seeking air and ocean transportation avenues for forthcoming donations.”

Victor Sotolongo is coordinating the Solar Lights Donation logistics for Sol, Inc. Call, text or email him at 772.205-9987 or v.sotolongo@solarlighting.com .

Sol will be providing additional lights through a special ongoing Solar Lights for Haiti matching program it has established. For every solar light system purchased, Sol, Inc. will match the donation with a second solar light system. To support the solar lights for Haiti relief effort, visit http://www.solarlighting.com and click “Donate Light to Haiti Earthquake Victims.”

Sol, Inc.’s solar light philanthropy program has assisted victims and volunteers in disaster recovery. Past recipients include: Hurricane Katrina Recovery Lighting (2005), Hurricane Rita Recovery Lighting (2005), Peruvian Earthquake Relief (2007), and Chapman, Kansas Tornado Redevelopment Lighting (2009). For more information about Sol, Inc.’s charitable outreach program visit: http://www.solarlightingusa.com/community-outreach.html

About Sol, Inc. – http://www.solarlighting.com

Sol, Inc. is the world leader in solar LED outdoor lighting solutions with over 40,000 systems installed in more than 60 countries on six continents. Since 1990, Sol has introduced innovative and cost-effective solar lighting systems that provide unsurpassed levels of illumination and reliability. Sol, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets commercial/industrial-grade solar powered and energy efficient lighting systems for a wide range of lighting applications including area and security, street and roadways, sign and billboards and transit and shelter lighting. Sol, Inc. is ISO 9001:2000 certified and committed to superior design, manufacturing, and customer satisfaction.

Read more here.