Lighting accounts for 13% of global energy usage, and widespread adoption of technologies like LEDs and lighting control systems might lower this number to 8% by 2030. Moving in this manner “not only enables energy consumption optimization, but also enhances the industry’s environmental impact.”
Josep M. Martnez, president and general manager of Signify in Spain and Portugal, puts it this way. He also thinks that European funds are “a great opportunity to finance initiatives that contribute to achieving a greener and more digital Europe,” acting in the reduction of emissions, promoting digital innovation, and creating jobs. He contends that lighting is “a simple and straightforward technique” to have a good effect on these three factors, including work.
The manager emphasizes the work of Signify to facilitate the adoption of immediate measures that contribute to the achievement of the goals set forth in the Europe 2020 strategy: “A massive renovation to LED technology and control systems in the entire residential and tertiary building stock in Spain would mean a saving of 3,585 million euros per year (equivalent to 0.33% of annual GDP), as well as a reduction of nearly 7 million tons of CO2, also generating about 100,000 jobs.”
According to Martnez, who gave an interview to Europa Press, modern technological advancements allow for the market to be supplied with lighting solutions that consume less energy and emit less greenhouse gases, having a positive impact on the environment. She continues, “Current advancements, like 3D printing, solar energy, or smart lighting, among others, can assist increase the impact in various crucial sectors.
‘AS A SERVICE’ LIGHTING AND 3D PRINTING
In particular, the circle lighting, like Signify’s 3D printed luminaires, has a 47% lower carbon footprint than conventional luminaires and, additionally, may be returned to recycle your resources and utilize them for reprinting after their useful life. Additionally, there are new lighting as a service projects (LaaS, or “Light as a Service”) that allow customers to pay simply for the power service while the company manages, recycles, and reuses the luminaires.
“The lighting business is undergoing constant change, and innovation is essential to addressing the major global concerns that emerge […]. We wish to provide technology to our clients that enables them to reduce their environmental impact. We must remember that the least expensive energy is the one we do not use, and at the moment, linked lighting and LED technology allow us to achieve savings of over 80% “, continues the chief executive of Signify in Portugal and Spain.
However, innovation keeps moving forward, and in 2021 the business introduced the most energy-efficient light bulbs to yet, which use about 60% less energy than a conventional LED bulb. The high price of electricity is one thing that now worries customers as well as the environment and their wallets.
Since the start of the epidemic, more individuals are working remotely, spending more time at home, and this has raised public awareness of the value of bright lighting. In light of this circumstance, Martnez draws attention to the fact that investing in connected lighting enables consumption to be monitored and regulated in accordance with the goals to be met and, as a result, lowers energy expenses.
“Through various settings, Philips Hue enables house illumination to be readily adjusted to each moment of the day as well as to various routines, favoring focus and productivity when working or favoring relaxation and disconnecting. At the same time, in addition to cost savings, illumination can be changed to suit various requirements. Led technology integration can save energy consumption and electricity costs by nearly to 80% in residential buildings “explains Martnez.
Lighting accounts for 50% of a city’s electrical consumption.
The public sector is likewise cognizant of the value of cost-cutting, as lighting accounts for 50% of a city’s electricity use. Currently, Signify is dedicated on lighting management systems like Interact, which connect public lighting and make it smart. Interact enables light to be adapted to the various needs of urban settings by automatically regulating intensity and allowing for dimming when not required. This enables energy usage to be optimized while enhancing public safety.
Interact software gathers real-time data about how public lighting is functioning as well as environmental factors like noise, the presence of people, bicycles, and vehicles, or the amount of ambient light, thanks to the integration of exterior sensors. Similar to this, sensors in interior places gather information on air quality, humidity, population size, and temperature.
“With the expansion of cities and the rise in urbanization, it is necessary to advance “Smart City” ecosystems by developing scalable solutions that streamline the numerous connections already formed in the urban fabric. Illumination is one area in which smart cities can be implemented, utilizing the infrastructure already in place for public lighting as the foundation “Martnez continues.
THE CHANGE FROM SIGNIFY TO PHILIPS LIGHTING
Last but not least, Martnez refers to the change from Philips Lighting to Signify as “a process of natural progression” that the business was heading towards. This modification has made it feasible to combine all the companies under the Signify banner while keeping their individual identities and emphasizing the advantages they provide clients in unique ways.
Additionally, the manager claims that via this progression, the organization has been able to strengthen its pillars of “innovation and sustainability.” “All of our products are connected or connectable as of 2020, allowing us to maintain our position as an innovation leader and to further our dedication to connectivity. As an illustration, consider that we filed 19,600 patents worldwide last year and allocated 4.1% of our sales to research and development, making us the industry leader in terms of patent filing at the European level “, he declared.
This 2022 scenario places the world in a state of “uncertainty,” as a result of the various difficulties that many businesses must deal with, including logistical issues, a lack of components, as well as an increase in the cost of raw materials and energy. But he thinks that because of European Funds, there is a “wonderful potential” to deal with these problems.
“We have the resources, the will, and most significantly, the technology to work toward Europe’s 2050 target of carbon neutrality and effectively combat climate change. We must act now and coordinate our efforts to take advantage of this chance to create a greener and more technologically advanced Europe “Finally, he says.