In the Race to Zero, Signify calls on businesses in the United Kingdom & Ireland and world leaders to accelerate transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting

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  Posted by: electime      5th November 2021

With global emissions rising at unprecedented levels and energy prices around the globe reaching all-time highs, it is now more urgent than ever that the world and business leaders at COP26 in Glasgow commit to bolder targets to tackle climate change. Signify(Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, advocates a fast transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to accelerate decarbonisation and advance digitalisation for businesses and consumers. Businesses in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK&I) and world leaders should focus on making changes that deliver results quickly and impact both the professional and consumer lighting markets. 

More than a decade after Signify’s call to phase out the incandescent light bulb around the globe, it now calls for the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting as the new standard of ‘general lighting. The move will help meet the goals of economic recovery plans for the UK’s ten point plan, the European Green Deal, as well as other commitments that nations have made around the world in line with the Paris Agreement. 

The call to action also reflects sentiment expressed by the International Energy Agency (IEA). In its recent ‘NetZero by 2050’ report, the IEA recommended that “the share of LED lamps in total lightbulb sales reaches 100% by 2025 in all regions” of the world and that minimum energy performance standards should be accompanied by smart control of appliances.

According to Signify’s findings, switching to LED lighting in the professional lighting market could reduce CO₂ emissions by 3.9 million tonnes in the UK&I region, the amount of emissions that 175 million trees could sequester in a year. Making the switch would also generate electricity savings of 16.1 TWh, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 4.3 million households. This would mean a saving of EUR 3.8 billion on electricity costs.

“The current decade to 2030 will be decisive for world leaders to reach the goal of net zero by 2050. They must back their commitments by actions that deliver results on the short to medium term,” said Brian Motherway, Head of Energy at IEA. “We envisage that a move to more energy-efficient technologies is one of the core measures that will help us in our Race to Zero.”

Doubling rate of building renovations to 3% per year

Upgrading lighting is the quickest and least intrusive part of building and infrastructure renovation, reducing the built environment’s lighting-related energy consumption by up to 80%, delivering carbon emissions reductions and cost savings.  By moving directly to connected lighting, countries can also further their digital ambitions. It will accelerate the adoption of smart technologies in government buildings, industry, and households in the region, reaping benefits in productivity, health and wellbeing, and digital innovation.

A revision of buildings codes will help to accelerate renovations around the globe

‘’Decarbonising the United Kingdom and Ireland’s built environment is a significant challenge that also comes with major opportunities – accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient solutions and job creation. For the success of the green agenda, each government needs to ensure quick and big wins.

Encouraging energy-efficient retrofits in the built environment and better planning new infrastructure development with a focus on technologies that can expedite reduction of carbon emissions can offer definite results. LED lighting is one of the quickest renovations that dramatically cuts carbon – it does not require large capital investments and has a short payback time,” said Stephen Rouatt, CEO, Signify UK&I.

“We understand the urgency of the current climate crisis and as leaders in the lighting sector, we have a firm commitment to transformative action. Our solutions and services can help the agenda, ensuring the success of the UK COP 26 Presidency goals and in the United Kingdom and Ireland’s green recovery.’’

Raising awareness among consumers

Consumers can also play their own part in reducing CO₂ emissions by switching to smart home lighting technologies and other ultra-efficient lighting innovations. To raise awareness and accelerate such a switch, Signify calls for the creation of public awareness campaigns that highlight the benefits of these lighting innovations, and to allocate some of the recovery funding for household lighting upgrades at municipal level.