How to take effective action on energy efficiency

Both technological change and social change are needed—now

Although sometimes overlooked in the race to devise innovative solutions to the climate crisis, energy efficiency remains crucially important. Energy efficiency has saved more primary energy and has reduced emissions at a faster pace than has the transition to renewable energy resources.

While the growth in global energy consumption dropped by 2.1% during the pandemic year of 2022, the rate of growth remains higher than the average rate measured from 2010 to 2019. What can we do to slow this rate of growth, or even reverse it?

One of the best ways to take immediate and effective action is to transition from conventional lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting. LED light sources consume far less energy than incandescent and fluorescent light sources, and even less when managed in a connected system. An individual light bulb or luminaire consumes a small amount of energy, but because lighting is everywhere that people are, the global lighting footprint is significant.

Worker maintaining outdoor LED lighting fixture for energy efficiency.

That means that transitioning to energy-efficient lighting solutions can have a significant effect. Because economic growth results in global increases in the use of artificial lighting, inaction will result in a significant increase in global energy consumption for lighting by 2030. While the global transition to energy-efficient LED lighting is moving very quickly—approximately 85% of lighting sales at Signify are LED today, for example—there are still significant benefits that can be gained by accelerating the depletion of the installed base of conventional lighting, which still accounts for almost 50% of all light points in the EU and the US.

In fact, the worldwide switch to LED and connected LED could decrease global energy demand for electricity by 30%, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions by 1.4 billion metric tons a year.”

The switch is easy and relatively inexpensive to make, in both residential and commercial environments.

It's important to keep in mind that making the transition to energy-efficient lighting involves not just technological change but also social change. People have to want to make the switch. Individuals have to understand the positive effects of well-managed LED lighting on comfort and well-being. Businesses and cities have to understand its advantages not only in terms of energy and emissions reductions but also in terms of improvements to operations and quality of life.

A sense of urgency is appropriate. But fear-mongering and finger-pointing will not bring about the necessary social change. Instead, the emphasis has to be on taking effective energy-efficiency action and improving the quality of life, work, and the economy. With the right approach, we can have our cake and eat it too.

About the author:

Harry Verhaar

Global Head of Brand, Communications, and Marketing, Signify

For further information, please contact:

Head of External Communications - Signify

Tom Lodge
Tel: +31 6 52525416
Email: tom.lodge@signify.com

For commercial enquiries:

About Signify

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals, consumers and the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2023, we had sales of EUR 6.7 billion, approximately 32,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for seven consecutive years and have achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating for four consecutive years, placing Signify in the top one percent of companies assessed. News from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on X, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.

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