Sinués, Valle de Aísa: sustainable lighting for a unique rural enclave in the high mountains

SINUÉS —25/8/2025— The small rural village of Sinués, in Valle de Aísa (Aragonese Pyrenees), has modernized its outdoor lighting with ATP Lighting’s latest-generation LED technology. The project, promoted by the Municipality of Aísa, aimed to reduce energy consumption, protect the starry sky, and provide an aesthetic and durable solution adapted to the traditional character of the village.

 

 

A village with history and heritage value

 

Sinués is located at over 1,000 meters above sea level, in a setting of extraordinary natural and cultural significance. Belonging to the municipality of Aísa, in the region of La Jacetania, the village retains a strong identity rooted in the rural environment and the traditions of the Pyrenees. Its urban center and parish church are part of the Camino de Santiago, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which makes every intervention a delicate balance between progress and preservation.

 

In this context, outdoor lighting plays a fundamental role. The new installation not only addresses technical needs for visibility and safety but also integrates as an architectural and landscape element, respecting the historic essence of the village and enhancing its cultural and touristic appeal.

 

Classic luminaires with advanced technology

 

To illuminate Sinués, Villa XLA four-sided luminaires with Comfort Diffuser® and ultra-warm 2200 K color temperature were chosen. This classic-style model blends naturally into the urban layout and provides visual coherence to a setting defined by stone, wood, and traditional architecture.

 

Beyond aesthetics, the choice of color temperature responds to strict environmental criteria. Blue light emission is kept below 1.63% at 440 nm, minimizing impact on nocturnal fauna and circadian rhythms while enhancing the visibility of the starry sky. In this way, the project meets Starlight standards, consolidating Sinués as an ideal location for astrotourism activities and for the preservation of its natural heritage.

 

Efficiency, uniformity, and respect for the environment

 

The lighting system was designed following a tailored photometric study, achieving a uniformity greater than 0.6 even on uneven terrain and narrow streets. This homogeneous light distribution significantly improves spatial perception and strengthens safety for both residents and visitors. Properly dosed light levels prevent over-illumination and preserve darkness in areas that do not require artificial light, ensuring an optimal balance between functionality and landscape preservation.

 

In energy terms, the modernization represents a reduction in consumption of more than 70% compared to the previous installation. This not only results in direct economic savings but also considerably reduces the municipality’s environmental footprint, reinforcing the alignment of the intervention with the sustainability goals of the Aísa Valley.

 

Long-lasting, maintenance-free performance in high mountain conditions

 

The high-mountain climate of Sinués presents first-order technical challenges: very low temperatures over long periods, constant humidity, snow accumulation, and freeze-thaw cycles that accelerate the degradation of conventional materials. In this environment, ATP’s Villa XLA luminaires have been designed to ensure optimal and stable performance with no need for maintenance.

 

Thanks to ATP’s exclusive polymeric materials, the closed diffuser, and the application of a continuous sealing gasket, the luminaires achieve integral hermetic protection rated IP66+, preventing the ingress of water, dust, or dirt even under extreme conditions. Added to this is their IK10+ vandal resistance, which guarantees reliable and long-lasting operation in remote areas where corrective interventions are particularly complex.

 

Surge protection provides an additional layer of safety against electrical incidents common in rural mountain areas, while ATP’s comprehensive 10-year warranty underpins the system’s reliability. Altogether, the installed luminaires represent a solution designed to last, minimizing lifecycle costs.

 

An exemplary intervention in a unique rural environment

 

The lighting renovation of Sinués adds to other projects promoted in the area by the Municipality of Aísa, such as Candanchú, forming part of a global strategy to modernize the valley’s public lighting under criteria of sustainability, efficiency, and environmental respect.

The case of Sinués is particularly valuable because it demonstrates that even in small rural settlements, far from main roads and with limited resources, it is possible to apply cutting-edge solutions that guarantee safety, comfort, and the preservation of the nightscape. The project highlights that well-designed lighting is not only a functional tool but also an ally for conserving natural and cultural heritage, strengthening rural identity, and opening up new opportunities in areas such as astrotourism.

 

Continuity in the Aragonese Pyrenees: a global approach

 

The Sinués project is not an isolated effort but part of a systematic intervention by ATP across the Aragonese Pyrenees. In recent years, upgrades have been carried out in strategic locations such as Candanchú in Valle de Aísa; Escarrilla, Formigal, Gavín, Biescas, and Panticosa in Valle de Tena; as well as Villanúa in the Aragón Valley. All these interventions share the same focus: achieving energy efficiency, minimizing light pollution, and providing long-lasting, maintenance-free solutions in areas of high climatic and landscape demands.

 

A common element in all these projects has been the application of Starlight criteria, ensuring protection of the night sky and compatibility of lighting with biodiversity and astrotourism activities. This technical and environmental commitment has become a hallmark of ATP’s interventions in high mountain environments, reinforcing the natural and cultural value of the Aragonese Pyrenees.

 

In the short term, this strategy will continue with new lighting renovations in the villages of Aísa and Esposa, consolidating a network of projects that position La Jacetania as a benchmark in sustainable public lighting, respectful of the night sky and fully adapted to the extreme conditions of the mountains.