our design : greener pastures

These days it is no longer “hip” to be green. Indeed, it is a “must”. a·light purposefully strives, wherever possible, to integrate this way of thinking into our everyday practices. While the creation of superior, energy-efficient luminaires is our specialty, it is not enough to simply produce “green” products. One must look within, as well as without….

• Recycling :
• 60% recycled aluminum : The majority of our luminaires are produced using housings made of aluminum extrusion containing 60% recycled aluminum. Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy required to produce virgin material. Aluminum can be recycled and reused over and over without losing any of its characteristic attributes, so there is no quality degradation in using recycled aluminum. Aluminum is not only non-toxic, it is corrosion resistant, and coupled with paint it will maintain an attractive appearance for decades.  
• Scrap Metal & Cardboard : a·light maintains a scrap metal recycling program. Any internal parts produced in error or excess, as well as obsolete items, whether made from cold rolled steel, aluminum sheet metal, stainless steel or aluminum extrusion, are promptly recycled. We recycle 100% of all cardboard and packaging paper waste as well.
• Consumer Goods : a·light also recycles all soda cans, plastic bottles, ink cartridges and shreds all obsolete paperwork on a daily basis. Just as you do as a concerned citizen, we strive as a company to keep our footprint smaller by recycling as much of our daily working refuse.
• Packaging :
• T5 Lamping : Due to the nature of our minimalistic product line and the use of primarily T5 lamping, our luminaires are very compact already. Compared with a standard 2ft x4ft troffer the use of one of our standard luminaires can equate to 89% less shipping volume, 72% less shipping weight and 65% less packaging required. And with the same or better wattage and better lighting characteristics.
• Shipping :  We package all our products in the most efficient way possible, pre-planning truck space & pallet dimensions required for specific jobs to maximize each load. Partial shipments are only done upon request to save customer $ as well as to reduce fuel consumption and minimize truck traffic.
• Materials : Our highly impact-resistant cardboard packaging is made of an average of 20-30% recycled fiber content. Rather than box each individual fixture, we utilize a unique method of foam inserts to hold multiple fixtures in one box, reducing the box surface area and therefore cardboard by as much as 34%. This reduces on-site material waste as well as cleanup effort. Our foam inserts are made of 100% post-industrial recycled polyethylene and can also be recycled.
• Purchasing :
• Vendors : Many of our most important suppliers are within a 90mile radius. We strive to use local businesses in everything we purchase: from powdercoat appliers and manufacturers, lens & sensor manufacturers to packing and even marketing materials, right down to our Callaway promotional golf balls!
• Remote employees : Using the efficiency of remote technology, several of our key employees are home-based in several other states, reducing fuel consumption and traffic tie-ups from commuting.
• Post powdercoat finishes : a·light has partnered with Cardinal Industrial Finishes as our main supplier of powder coat paint for all our products. Cardinal has been certified as conforming to ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System Standards. They are within a 90 mile radius of our plant and their electrostatically applied powder coat paint is environmentally sound.
• Excellent indoor/outdoor durability
• Long-lasting color
• Extensive color & texture choices
• Eliminates VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and toxic solvent emittance
• Near 0% overspray waste
• More information...
• Buy America :
  • In 1933 the Buy America Act was signed into law essentially requiring preference toward U.S. manufactured products on all government purchases. This law states that any end product must be manufactured in the US and must have over 50% of the cost of all components come from U.S. manufactured suppliers.
  • In Feb. 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (otherwise known as the Stimulus Package) includes a "Buy American Provision" that again stipulates a general preference for U.S. manufactured items (but no component specifics) for all projects using Stimulus Package monies.
  • Specification : By selecting products for your specification that meet the Buy America Act and/or ARRA Buy American Provision, you are supporting the economic recovery and American workers by keeping/creating jobs here in the U.S.
  • Certification : We certify that a·light products are domestic end products entirely manufactured in the U.S., produced & assembled in our Vista, California plant, and that 51% or more of the costs of all components, including transportation costs, are also manufactured in the U.S., in accordance with the Buy America Act of 1933, including subsequent amendments.