Blog: General |
Parish Walk 2013Date Posted:Monday, 17 June 2013 16:03 Parish Walk start number 705Well, with my first Parish Walk soon to commence, I’m really looking forward to being part of this important event. The ‘Parish’ is a well known part of modern Manx tradition, with a circuit of 85 miles to be completed within 24 hours. I decided to enter in January of this year, and planned a training programme which has covered around 400 miles, which I found able to integrate into my working day and weekend. Walking is a sport which requires little equipment, can be undertaken by alone and is not dependant on fine weather.
I have found getting up for an early walk, before the family get up or before breakfast if I’m away on business, to work best for me and gets me alert for the days tasks.
Seeing the day begin in different Towns and Cities is a wonderful experience , I have been lucky enough to walk around Kew Gardens at day break, seen the sun rise over Douglas bay and interestingly, seen the sun rise  over Peel!
The warmest spot was during a recent visit to the Algarve, which was great walking practice in hot conditions, something I may or may not need to this year event. The 2013 Parish Walk marks the first event which was held 100 years ago and this year has attached around 1,500 entrants. The event is organised by Manx Harriers and is sponsored by Manx Telecom. Good luck to all those competing in the 2013 Parish Walk, I’ll post my progress following the finish. Domestic photovoltaic panel installation in DouglasDate Posted:Wednesday, 05 September 2012 10:44 August sunlight produces 50% more energy than expected for renewable installation in DouglasThe first domestic renewable energy project Luminaires have supplied, has produced better than expected results. The array of photovoltaic (PV) panels fitted to the home of Paul Moulton, have produced 304 kWh of electrical energy, which would have cost around £48 to purchase from the MEA at today’s prices.
Early actual data recordings show that in the 24 days, from 7th August to 31st August, only six days were below the anticipated average figures and 18 above the average, the highest being 10th August producing over 20 kW hours of electricity. The average figures are produced by NASA using historical data, and anticipated an average daily figure of 8 kW hours production of energy. In reality the daily average energy production was over 12 kW hours, producing 50% more energy. This is great news for Paul, as the payback calculations are based on the NASA average and present MEA unit costs. Paul remarked, ‘With returns on money low at the moment, this looked like good investment, a higher return than the banks, with a reduction in energy bills and CO2. The project has been interesting and made me more aware of my energy consumption, I’m really enjoying the savings’. The PV installation was designed by Marc Asker, who moved to the Island in 2011, the Island is benefiting from his expert knowledge and experience, having previously ran his own companies in the south of England and France. Marc was satisfied with the initial recorded data, and commented that the way to achieve good energy production figures is to design the renewable installation for each individual site, ‘a good understanding of how to maximise the positional of the site and the configuration of each component, always delivers good results’. Luminaires is now working on a commercial project, designed to cover the whole energy consumption of the installation, more details can be seen by following us on facebook or twitter. Launch of my first bookDate Posted:Thursday, 05 April 2012 16:09 Launch of my first book April 4th saw the launch of my first book, Lighting Inspiration, at my local bookstore, The Lexicon. It was a proud moment for me and the end of a yearlong project. I was inspired to write a book because I wanted to share my experience gained over twenty-one years of running my own lighting business. I can trace my interest and passion back to my school days, joining the school theatrical lighting department before becoming head of lighting and being responsible for lighting for all school plays, musical and lecture events. My awareness of the effect lighting can have on an audience has been extremely useful when transferred and incorporated into the skills needed to start my own business in 1991. Like many people I believed there was a book in me, and having been fortunate to have worked on so many interesting projects and seen firsthand the enjoyment and positive results our clients have benefited from, I decided to put pen and photographs to paper. The aim was to make the book short and easy to follow, with images of installations carried out for clients in the Isle of Man over the last twenty-one years. Readers will find the ideas contained useful and practical, giving confidence and direction to improve the look and your experience of living in their home. Lighting Inspiration is aimed at anyone who wishes to improve or is dissatisfied with their present lighting. The book can be used as a convenient source of professional lighting advice and will raise your confidence when communicating your lighting wishes, or to provide simple tips which will help you understand how to improve the lighting in your home and enjoy the results. I believe once you have experienced the transformation good lighting can make to your living environment you will want to understand this subject in more detail. You can find a copy of Lighting Inspiration at The Lexicon, Strand Street Douglas or on their on-line store www.lexiconbookshop.co.im, or from the Luminaires showroom at Victoria Road, Douglas, price £9.99. Click here to view the interview for MT TV
Luminaires MasterclassDate Posted:Sunday, 19 February 2012 09:00 Luminaires Masterclass provides insight and positive outcomeThe recent Lighting Masterclass held on the evening of Thursday 16th February, brought together interested parties from the Island’s construction industry, all keen to hear and see the latest developments in lighting technology and future trends. The presentation covered lighting principles and demonstrated the connection between understanding the principles and providing  companies with huge savings. The result of reducing the companies lighting energy consumption by implementing an effective strategy or using energy efficient products. Simple computations highlighted the benefit of payback periods of under three, two or even one year and more importantly demonstrated how the capital cost is insignificant compare to considerable savings enjoyed though whole life costings , using quality, effective and energy efficient lighting. As is so often the case when a group of interested individuals focus on a particular subject, the following debate and discussion is extremely valuable and this prove to be true on Thursday, with new business models and practises being investigated. The whole world, not just the Island,  is undergoing change at the moment  and I believe working together we can come up with the solutions not only to combat the present situation but to inspire and create an improved environment, for us to live and work in. This is one reason the Masterclass works so well. Future Lighting Masterclasses will focus on a number of specialist topics for the trade as well as Materclasses aimed at anyone living in their home who would like to improve the quality of their lives through lighting. Please feel free to contact us for more details. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 01624 665801 Artisan lighting upgrade completed on timeDate Posted:Wednesday, 21 December 2011 07:12  Artisan lighting upgrade, fantastic!ÂLuminaires were responsible for the fantastic lighting upgrade of the Heron & Brearley flagship bar and restaurant, Artisan in Victoria Street, Douglas. The objective was to create a welcoming destination which evolves throughout the 15 hours Artisan is open each day. This proves particularly challenging for those involved with the interior decor for a business which has different client requirements throughout the day. This is where a good understanding of how lighting can meet those expectations is vital. Delivering different lighting scenes at specific times of the day, creates the right atmosphere for people to enjoy their socialising.
Ian Lennox, MD of Heron and Brearley said, 'The work was finished just in time for the busiest period for the licensing trade, the festive season, and has transformed the look and feel of this establishment, becoming the most inviting place in Douglas to eat, drink and socialise.' Reasons for its popularity are the continual rise in the quality of the food, now expertly prepared and cooked to order, the attentive table service and the ambiance, which the lighting plays a major role. Ralph Peake said 'Luminaires understand the importance lighting plays in bringing success to a project. Good design, by specifying lighting which can enhance the ‘daylight’ for a quick morning coffee or a time sensitive lunch, in comfortable surroundings, yet be dynamic enough to create a social environment for informal business networking, then an exhilarating atmosphere for a fun and lively late night venue.' 'All our objectives have been exceed, with a mix of attractive, smart and elegant lighting solutions by Luminaires, see for yourself, visit Artisan in Victoria Street , Douglas and let us have your feedback' This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Established & Sons collectionDate Posted:Tuesday, 13 December 2011 14:38 Luminaires are proud to offer the Established & Sons range of furniture and lighting products in the Isle of ManEstablished & Sons is an award-winning British manufacturing and design company that specialises in the highest quality furniture design and production. Innovation and excellence characterise everything that the company does.
The uniquely positioned British design company focused on producing and representing all that is innovative in contemporary design, a selection of their exciting furniture and lighting collection is available to view and buy at the Luminaires showroom on Victoria Road, Douglas. Through collaborations with the best designers and skilled craftsmen, Established & Sons produces original furniture designs that are significant and pioneering; designs that illustrate the very best British design has to offer the worldwide design market Some of the pieces in the collection push material technology as well as the laws of physics. Others contain elegance and joviality while all have a very clearly defined and recognisable character. As always, design integrity is clearly evident and very much in keeping with the Established & Sons philosophy and design dynamic. Come and visit the Luminaires showroom and be inspired.
More Articles...Page 1 of 4 |
||
