Lighting the Way
It is estimated that by 2014 electricity that would have cost you R250 in 2009 will cost R808 – R760 for the electricity and R48 for the carbon tax. While it is currently something that is focused on as a separate project, with electricity costs set to rise 220% by 2014 carbon reduction and sustainability management will soon form part of good business practise. Remaining inefficient will always be profitable in the short term, but what is going to benefit your store in the long term? The newly launched Philips Lighting Solutions Company is offering customised turnkey solutions that will give businesses immediate benefits in the form of drastically reduced energy bills.
Philips is known for its wide range of lighting solutions and now that sustainability is such an important aspect for businesses, the company has formed a new, separate business called Philips Lighting Solutions Company. This company combines all of the lighting knowledge from the Philips core business that has been gained over 120 years, in a practical solution to lighting needs – a focused, dedicated team that can tailor a unique solution to any business. Switching to energy efficient lighting can be seen as complex by establishments because of the upfront finance required, multiple suppliers and over-stated promises as well as the cost in time that implementation would require. Often these are reasons that companies choose to stick with the shortterm inefficiencies and high expenses that come with standard lighting.
Lighting provides the quickest and simplest way for companies to reduce their energy consumption. Lighting typically accounts for 20% of commercial building electricity consumption and new lighting can save 50% energy, allowing organisations to come close to achieving government’s 2015 energy efficiency targets of 12-15% energy reduction with one investment.
The company is offering a one stop total project turnkey solution that includes lighting surveys, advice, project management, installation, maintenance and significant, guaranteed energy savings over a projected period of time. Philips can even minimise financial impact through access to enablers like the Eskom IDM funding and tailored financial solutions. With new lighting, maintenance costs are brought down which means that those savings can be refocused on the core business.
“Philips is aiming to remove the complexity and the risk which companies face today when considering a switch to new energy efficient lighting including LEDs,”says Megan Louw, General Manager of Philips Lighting Solutions (Pty) Ltd. “We have a very strong, innovative track record as the global leader in lighting, not just with respect to product but now also total solutions. What we are saying is contact us and we can manage your entire switch over and create a fantastic win-win scenario.”
The benefits that come with a switch to energy efficient lighting include lower energy and maintenance costs, and an enhanced sense of wellbeing for customers and staff alike. It is wellknown that lighting affects moods – productivity drops down in poorly lit rooms and harsh lighting can make products seem unappetising. Philips has a number of examples of projects that they’ve worked on – from as decorative and colourful as the LED lighting display on the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg, to an all-over overhaul of the Tesco shops in the UK. After installing energy efficient lighting in Tesco shops, the company experienced a £1.2 million saving and Philips were especially proud of the new LED freezer product that they’d put in all of the freezers to replace the fluorescent bulbs that kept on breaking and causing downtime.
In fact, apart from the energy savings that come with new lighting, it is the reduction of maintenance-related downtime that is probably the most beneficial to companies. An LED lightbulb lasts for 40 000 hours until it reaches 70% of its original light output (it will theoretically last over 100 000 hours, but it will give out less light as it gets over 40 000 hours). Imagine the man hours that won’t be spent changing lightbulbs. Energy efficient lights are also 100% recyclable which reduces a company’s carbon footprint.
Philips Lighting locally has worked with ABI on their Devland site and reduced their energy consumption from high bay warehouse lighting by over 80% through supply of the TTX400 lighting system with controls. ABI also has to take on far
less maintenance, and the improved lighting has also improved worker safety. Internationally they have worked with the House of Fraser to beatify the shops’ exterior through coloured lighting and improving the visual quality within stores. Energy consumption was reduced by an estimated 27% and each of the 30 stores that were completed in the turnkey operation come with five year warranties and five year financing. In a foodservice setting, Henk Rotman, the Product Maketing Manager for Lighting Systems and Controls for Philips Lighting Solutions Africa says that, “The lighting of modern food stores is no longer purely functional, as lighting has a major impact on the atmosphere in a shop and the right lighting sets the mood for shoppers, enticing them to enter the shop and stay longer (and buy more). Additionally lighting plays a fundamental role in an optimal display of goods on sale. Special lamps are available for optimal presentation of certain food categories, like the MASTERColour Elite fresh for fruit and vegetables and the MASTERColour Elite warm for bread and pastry. Both compact metalhalide lamps from Philips are known to enhance the sales of the mentioned food categories, while keeping energy-use and maintenance to a minimum thanks to the good lamp efficacy and the long lifetime. The MASTERColour Elite fresh lamps are already being used by several outlets of Food Lover’s Market.”
Philips Lighting Solutions is based in Johannesburg and you can find more information by visiting www.philipslighting.co.za or by contacting Megan Louw, the GM of Philips Lighting Solutions, on 082 552 3772 or emailing megan.louw@philips.com