Acrospire

Autonomy in solar lighting - what does it really mean? 🤔 In the context of solar lighting, autonomy refers to the system's ability to operate independently by battery power alone without any additional solar input ☀ AKA the measure of how much stored energy the system has to power the lights (and, in the case of our Aeromax, even CCTV, illuminated signage and Smart City devices) on days where there is low or no sunlight, and importantly for street lighting projects - at night. 🧮 How is it calculated? Through a simple formula Battery Capacity/Usage. While battery capacity is fixed, usage varies based on factors like how many watts are being used and for how long. We asked our resident expert, Neil Purdue, to break down the numbers. Here's an example: 🔹 Battery Capacity: 1000Wh 🔹 LED Power: 8W 🔹 Winter on-time: 16h | Summer on-time: 8h ☀ Summer Autonomy Usage is 8W x 8h = 64Wh Autonomy is 1000/64 = 15.6 days 🌦 Winter Autonomy Usage is 8W x 16h = 128Wh Autonomy is 1000/128 = 7.8 days But what else impacts autonomy? Let us know if you'd like to learn more by giving us a 👍! #solar #solarenergy #lighting #offgrid

Have you checked out the October issue of A1 Lighting Magazine? 😍 Our Managing Director, Tim Barker, was thrilled to contribute to the "Is solar-powered street lighting the future?" feature. Building on our Solar Honesty campaign, Tim shared his valuable insights on why solar lighting isn't the right solution for every application. The good news? With over 6 years of real-world experience in solar street lighting, we're well-positioned to advise when it is the right choice! Just like our recent project with Luton Borough Council and VolkerHighways, where we delivered a custom solar lighting solution for bus shelters. #solarlighting #lightinginnovation #Luton

Beautiful Bath 😍 In case you missed it, we recently had the pleasure of illuminating three stunning locations in Bath, each with its own unique charm. Every site features a different traditional luminaire, carefully chosen to complement the distinct heritage aesthetics and blend seamlessly with the surrounding architecture. Proud to be part of preserving the beauty of this historic city! #heritage #Bath #lighting

Product Spotlight 🔦 | VandaWay Looking for a robust lighting solution for underpasses or car parks? Meet VandaWay, our highly vandal-resistant (and we mean it - IK10++ impact tested to 200J) luminaire designed to enhance safety in challenging environments. Available in four lengths—700mm, 1000mm, 1300mm, and 1600mm—VandaWay offers a versatile stand-alone or continuous lighting system to suit your needs. It delivers exceptional energy efficiency, providing the required lighting levels while significantly reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs compared to traditional fluorescent light sources. Whether it’s for public safety or energy savings, VandaWay is the smart choice. #subway #lighting

How is it October, and nearly November already? 🍂🎃 The highlight of next month? Naturally, it’s the HEA Annual Summit at the iconic Celtic Manor on Thursday, 14th November! Last year was particularly special for us as we had the honour of winning not just one but two HEA Awards 🏆 Customer Success Manager, Davide Demicheli was named “Employee of the Year”, and we proudly received the “HEMSA SME Member of the Year” award for the first time 🎉 We're crossing our fingers you deem us worthy again this year 🤞 Will you be attending? Let us know in the comments – we’d love to catch up! 😊 #HEASummit #CelticManor #Networking / Highway Electrical Association (HEA)

Dark underpass? We know that as more people walk or cycle to school or work, the routes that we choose are influenced by how safe they feel. With the nights drawing in, underpasses, tunnels and pathways under bridges can feel intimidating, especially if poorly lit. But quality lighting can make all the difference. Transform dark, isolated areas into safer, more welcoming ones with our new range of vandal-resistant wall and ceiling-mounted luminaires. Learn more, here > https://bit.ly/4eRMuse #underpass #lighting #pedestriansafety

What we learned from illuminating Ryde Interchange, Isle of Wight 💚 Preserving heritage and reducing light pollution is a delicate balancing act, especially on an island known for its Victorian charm and pristine dark skies. Here's what we took away from our work on the Ryde Interchange scheme, a project that aimed to modernise the island’s busiest transport hub without sacrificing its unique character: 🌌 Light pollution is a key consideration As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Isle of Wight is committed to protecting its dark skies. Ensuring that our luminaires minimised sky glow was essential to helping the island maintain its natural beauty and progress toward official Dark Skies status. 🏛️ Aesthetics matter in conservation areas Matching the aesthetics of historical surroundings was crucial for this project. We designed luminaires that blended seamlessly with the Victorian heritage of Ryde, complete with decorative embellishments to maintain the area's charm. ♻️ Sustainability in supply chains counts With all materials sourced within 60 miles of our factory, we were able to reduce carbon emissions and support the local economy—values that align perfectly with the Isle of Wight Council’s own sustainability goals. 💡 Performance must never be compromised The luminaires not only met the high performance and efficiency standards required but also achieved energy savings of up to 75% compared to traditional HID installations. Collaborating with Island Roads and Isle of Wight Council has reinforced our belief that innovation, sustainability, and heritage can work hand in hand. #IsleOfWight #DarkSkies #SustainableLighting #HeritageLighting #EnergyEfficiency #StreetLighting

Will solar lighting work through winter? ❄🌥 As the colder (and darker!) months roll in, it's natural to wonder, "Will there be enough sunlight to keep my solar lights working?". One of the biggest factors in ensuring the success of your solar lighting installation is... Placement! 📍 To maximise solar energy harvesting, we'll help you consider: 🔄 The direction and angle of your solar panels: Our recommendations vary depending on whether your lights are for year-round use or just summer/winter installations - each has optimal panel positioning 🌳 Location: Avoid installing near trees or in shaded areas to ensure maximum exposure to sunlight 🦅 Surface maintenance: To maintain efficiency, cleaning your panels regularly should be part of your maintenance plan 🤩 Quality: Using high-efficiency panels can significantly boost the system's energy harvesting potential. #solar #solarlighting #lighting

We're on a mission to make public spaces safer 💡 As more people walk or cycle to school or work, there's no doubt that the routes we choose are influenced by how safe they feel. Lighting plays a key role in this. With the nights drawing in, underpasses, tunnels and pathways under bridges can feel intimidating, especially if poorly lit. But quality lighting can make all the difference. Transforming dark, isolated areas into safer, more welcoming ones. Discover our new range of vandal-resistant wall and ceiling-mounted luminaires, here > https://bit.ly/4eRMuse #underpass #lighting #pedestriansafety

"Your products are REALLY good quality - why are they cheaper than XXXX?" We get asked this a lot! We could talk about our supply chain (we're a British manufacturer, and with the exception of our solar lighting, our supply chain is within a 60-mile radius of our factory in Basingstoke), but, the truth is... We're smaller and that means fewer overheads. Rest assured, we still compete with the 'big boys' on:  ✅ Cost  ✅ Quality (ask for a sample and see for yourself!)  ✅ Performance  ✅ Lead time (many of our products are available within 3-4 weeks - much shorter than most of our competitors) We also believe (very strongly) in fair pricing. So, a question for you... is it time to switch? Acrospire. Small but mighty 👊 #lighting #exteriorlighting #BritishManufacturer #streetlighting