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Efficient, Effective and Environmentally Sound
Energy Efficient
The HID light sources The HID light sources employed in the AAL products are the most efficient sources commercially available today with efficacies in the 90 lumens per watt (LPW) range. The result is more light with less energy consumption
Energy Effective
Even the most efficient sources can be energy hogs if they distribute the light to places where it is unnecessary or unwanted. The AAL die cast back-housing with segmented, high reflectance, aluminum mirrors is a precision optical system that puts light where it is needed and minimizes light trespass, sky glow and other forms of light pollution. These optical systems are engineered for highly controlled, and thereby effective, light distribution.
Environmentally Sound
All AAL products are produced with sustainable technologies that have as small an impact on the environment as possible. Sustainable is a continuous process, but AAL has moved to the use of long life, robust renewable materials such as aluminum and glass in all its products.
AAL also utilizes state-of-the-art finishing systems, which employ a 5 stage pretreatment process using only the eco-friendly cleansing and preparation chemicals that are harmless enough to send to the drain without processing. The pre-treatment is followed by a 100% electrostatic powder paint application where no organics are used and no VOCs emitted.
Carbon Neutral
To become carbon neutral, an organization must calculate their total climate-damaging carbon emissions, reduce them where possible, and then balance the remaining emissions. This can be accomplished by a variety of means, including utilizing alternative energy sources and/or fuels, and planting trees.
AAL’s Carbon Neutral Process
All carbon generated as a consequence of manufacturing at AAL is offset by green (renewable) energy re-introduced into the grid through TerraPass. Through TerraPass, AAL may fund clean energy projects such as wind farms, which results in verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (www.terrapass.com).
LEED
Studies show that:
- An estimated 30% of all US outdoor lighting is being directed skyward as waste
- $1.5 billion dollars is estimated to be spent on wasted electricity yearly
~ International Dark Sky Association, www.darksky.org/ida
- Buildings Account for 38% of CO2 emissions in the United States
- CO2 emissions from commercial buildings are projected to grow faster than any other sector—1.8% a year through 2030
- Buildings consume 70% of the electricity load in the U.S.
- The average LEED® certified building uses 32% less electricity and saves 350 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually
~ Building Design Leaders Collaborating on Carbon-Neutral Buildings by 2030. May 7, 2007
www.usgbc.org/news/pressreleasedetails
The USGBC has recently announced that a project may earn an Innovation in Design point by using carbon neutral materials and products in their building projects. According to the USGBC, the primary goal of awarding an Innovation in Design point is to increase the market demand for carbon neutral products and materials, thus eventually reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from building materials.
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