News

You may have noticed something different. That's because we have just launched our new logo which we hope you will agree is a vast improvement. The logo is simpler, cleaner and we feel better communicates our message to existing and potential new clients.

Logo design by Auto / www.studioauto.co.uk

Firefly is extremely pleased to announce that we have been awarded a National Lottery Awards For All grant. This will facilitate the continuing development of solar products, freeing up the existing fleet for use by community groups and local events which will benefit Brighton and Hove and the wider community. The funding from Awards for All has been a great help with fulfilling our role as a Community Interest Company.

Firefly’s director Andy Mead says “This grant enables us to develop new innovative solar systems and stay at the forefront of the drive towards renewably powered events for everybody. The effects will definitely be felt and observed by a large proportion of the local community”

Firefly constantly receives a volume of enquiries from the general public who are keen to develop their knowledge of renewable power but are finding it difficult to do so. The provision of solar generators to local events can initiate, expand and nurture the interest of the local community. By acting as an example and encouraging others to engage with power generation from alternative means our events aim to educate, engage, involve and improve.

Firefly Solar have been awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the 2009 Event Awards, held at the prestigious Park Lane Hilton, London on September 25th.

The Event Awards are regarded as the event industry’s number one award ceremony, showcasing the best exhibitions, experiential campaigns and creative events. The panel of judges, hand-picked for their expertise, impartiality and respect within the industry deliberated all the categories, paying particular attention to entries that highlighted how they surpassed objectives in the briefs, while also providing concise testimonials and strong supporting material.

After picking up the award Managing Director, Andy Mead, said “We are extremely pleased to have received the recognition for our hard work over the past two years and are glad the events industry is welcoming new companies and embracing evolving technologies like ours”

“My congratulations go out to all the evening's winners and a huge thank you to all our clients, partners and supporters who have helped us build a great company from the ground up”

Many of Firefly’s peers also collected awards on the night including Sledge who collected the 'Green Award' and mentioned Firefly as a key supplier at their events such as the Innocent Village Fete and Unity who were winners of the 'Green Event of the Year Award' for the Age of Stupid Film Première which Firefly produced.

For full coverage of the event including a list of the winners of all catagories, please visit the link below.
www.eventmagazine.co.uk/channel/news/article/941486/Event-Awards-2009-pi...

The first day of September witnessed the launch of the 10:10 campaign at the Tate Modern on the South Bank of the River Thames. Supported by the Guardian and eco filmmaker Franny Armstrong the campaign aims to inspire people and businesses to pledge a cut of 10% of their carbon footprint by 2010. Another goal of the campaign is to influence world leader’s decisions at the forthcoming United Nations summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December.

Firefly Solar were given the task of technically producing the outdoor live stage in the courtyard. Firefly used three of their Orion solar generators to power a flown 25k D&B line array system and a lighting rig including our Easily LED Beamcans and ETC Source Four PAR HID’s. An interactive element was added to the proceedings by enabling the audience to get involved by powering the stage using our pedal powered link up, Firefly’s modified bicycles were ridden on the spot helping to charge the Orion solar generators.

The compere for the day was BBC Radio 1’s Sara Cox and musical entertainment came from Reverend and the Makers and Stornoway. A highlight was the live phone conversation between Franny and Ed Milliband, the Secretary of State for the department of Energy and Climate Change, where she publicly embarrassed him by claiming he had not even signed up yet. Kevin McCleod from Channel 4’s Grand Designs invited the crowd to cast their eyes on St Paul’s Cathedral and reminded everyone of the need to curb climate change to ensure our future generations will still have the pleasure of viewing such amazing buildings.

So what’s stopping you, join up today! By committing to cut your emissions by 10% in 2010, you will join thousands of individuals, schools, hospitals, businesses and organisations all actively helping to combat climate change by making simple changes to their lifestyles, homes and workplaces. See www.1010uk.org for more information.

Firefly’s bespoke installation and build division has completed the conversion of East Sussex County Council’s Rethink Rubbish bus’ electrics to run on solar power. This is the first major step in the buses shift in focus from recycling to climate change.

The Rethink Rubbish Bus is a free, interactive, fun bus that visits schools and community events in East Sussex educating people on the best ways to recycle. It's packed full of information on how you can reduce your waste, how to recycle and compost.

Firefly’s technicians replaced the on board diesel generator with a battery storage system and built a mobile, floor mounted solar briefcase for solar power input. The briefcase features a digital meter which helps to highlight the direct link between sunlight and electricity and is an effective learning tool for users of the bus.

Our technicians evaluated every element of the electrical install and replaced all lighting fixtures with energy efficient alternatives, switching to heaters that have 60% less power consumption.

Daniel Spencer, technical consultant for the project says;

“It is great that we were able to deliver an interactive, educational tool for the council that will enable children to learn, in a practical and fun way, about the possibilities of solar energy”

The Rethink Rubbish bus will be out touring schools in the local area in the New Year.