The findings reveal that sustainability – environmental and social – is a key concern for urban

Philips’ LED innovation and range of energy efficient lighting solutions to improve the quality of cities

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) today unveiled the results of its city.people.light2007 research, carried out with leading architects, lighting designers and urban planners. The findings reveal that sustainability – environmental and social – is a key concern for urban life and lighting in the coming decade, and needs to be addressed to ensure sustainable cities as well as to respond to climate change. At the City.People.Light Forum, which takes place on May 24 in Rotterdam, Philips will demonstrate that the development of energy efficient lighting solutions can go hand in hand with the development of social sustainable lighting solutions to improve safety and well being in urban environments.

Research into urban life and the role of city lighting has never been more important. A century ago less than 10% of the world’s population lived in cities. Today, the figure is over 50% and by 2050, the percentage is expected to be over 75%. Many of these city dwellers will live in mega-cities in Asia and South America. Cities such as Shanghai (with a population of over 18 million) are already more populous than many European countries.

Sustainable lighting solutions As a world leader in lighting, Philips is at the forefront of energy efficient urban lighting solutions that enable cities to balance social and environmental sustainability. In conventional lighting, Philips’ CosmoPolis street lighting cuts energy consumption by 50%, while it also improves the quality of light, producing a greater feeling of security and well-being. And this enhanced sense of security can lead to further indirect energy savings. In the new area of solid-state lighting Philips is also leading with sustainable innovations. Solid-state lighting increasingly allows city authorities to combine social sustainable lighting plans with drastically reduced energy and maintenance costs. The symbolic Bosphorus Bridge linking Asia and Europe has recently been illuminated using Philips’ LEDs and luminaires. The installation creates a memorable, elegant effect and consumes 50% less energy than previously required. Furthermore, LEDs are ideal to significantly reduce light pollution and can be integrated in the design for a more natural look and feel. Both aspects were addressed in the research as major concerns going forward.
About Royal Philips Electronics Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 124,300 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27.0 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter. link