Signify, a global leader in lighting, reaffirmed its commitment to address the challenges of climate change by launching the Green Switch initiative at the ‘Flip the Green Switch for a Sustainable Philippines’ event last Friday, March 15, 2024, in Manila.
This initiative supports national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, and the urgent implementation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act by promoting energy efficient practices among both public and private sectors. Signify is ready to support Filipinos to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, one of which is by switching from conventional lighting to energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LED) and connected lighting.
Senator Win Gatchalian, the author of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, called for collective action at the Green Switch launch. “The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act is crucial to our country’s energy-saving goals. While we were able to pass the law in 2019, we have a long way to go in seeing full compliance. This is why all of us, from both public and private sectors, must seek solutions that are readily available and easy to achieve such as the clean lighting we are discussing in today’s forum,” he emphasized.
The Green Switch initiative is presented to encourage real action in achieving zero carbon emissions in a fast and simple way by highlighting lighting as a pivotal tool. One of the first quick steps towards compliance and reducing energy consumption is to replace conventional lighting with LED and connected technology lamps. This can be done both indoors and outdoors and is a relatively simple process that does not require a great deal of disruption to daily operations.
During the event, Vijay Venkatsubramanian, head of Specifications, ASEAN from Signify presented the latest innovations in lighting technology. He highlighted five key innovations, which included ultra-efficiency, connected lighting, Nature Connect that brings the benefits of natural light indoors by replicating the colors and intensity of natural sunlight, 3D printed light fixtures, and Solar lighting.
“At Signify, innovation and sustainability are the main pillars of our business strategy. The Green Switch initiative is our tangible effort to help cities, businesses, and individuals fulfill their climate action commitments without delay. We believe that upgrading lighting is one of the most effective ways to promote sustainability and help the Philippines achieve its climate goals.” said Raghuraman Chandrasekhar, country leader, Professional Business, Signify Philippines. “By switching to energy-efficient LED lighting, the Philippines has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to three million tons*. Green Switch offers one of the fastest and easiest paths to a greener and smarter future,” he added.
Director Patrick Aquino from the Department of Energy, Alexander Ablaza, president of the Philippines Energy Efficiency Alliance, Inc., and Dr. Neil Stephen A. Lopez from De La Salle University also shared their perspectives at the event. Over thirty representatives from major businesses and top corporations active in real estate, logistics, and office space industries attended the event.