SA to invest in LED lighting: Eskom

Speaking at the launch event in Johannesburg, Philips executive VP Ronald de Jong said that it was the company's policy to focus on new trends in society, especially in terms of coping with population growth and promoting good health.

"We started off, 120 years ago, as a lighting company," said De Jong, "and today lighting is still an important part of our business. We want to make a significant contribution to saving energy needed for lighting," he said before announcing that Philips, with the help of Eskom, would be distributing 200000 lamps from its MasterLED range to commercial consumers such as banks, casinos, hotels and retail outlets, at a discounted price. "The 200000 lamps could potentially save as much as R41-million per year, and prevent the emission of up to 50000 tons of carbon dioxide," De Jong said.

The deal announcement was timed to coincide with the COP17 climate change conference, currently underway in Durban. According to Media Club South Africa, prior to the conference, Eskom was involved in the upgrading of street lights around the venue from halogen to LED. A total of 149 street lights were upgraded to the cleaner lamps, which are each capable of burning for 60 000 hours. They also cost less to maintain and burn brighter, enhancing the safety and security of people in the street. Andrew Etzinger, Eskom's senior GM for integrated demand management, said: "In South Africa 10% of the energy we produce is used for lighting" He added that the new technology will save the municipality 47.4 megawatt-hours per year.

Read the full article on www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/.