Light Equity or Dark Equity? Safe Cities, Business Activation, Inclusivity and Diversity, Protection of Fauna, Vehicle Safety and an Ageing Population. Presently there is a tangible tension between what may appear competing interests public lighting and the use of public space.
Within Australia we live with the privilege of readily available light, yet many countries around the world make the choice of whether to use fuels for light or cooking; education or eating, questions that most of us have not had to grapple with.
In 2022 we used 1.7 times the earth’s available resources, meaning we are using more than what we can regenerate.
Start giving thought then to the incredible raw material strain placed on the environment, mining of bauxite for aluminium, copper, oil for plastics and silicone. Rare earth minerals for semi-conductors. Materials that will assist humanity transition from fossil fuels to renewables are all in competition with LED lighting.
The way that we design public lighting for public spaces must improve.
Leading luminaire manufacturers are already publishing their Environmental Product Declarations. Design of modularity for simplified maintenance, choice of products that can be recycled back into their original form for ease of recycling into other products is imperative and municipalities, utilities and road authorities and the design industry give recognition to those manufacturers that have designed for this future in mind.
Signify has an important role to play in the transition to a global low-carbon economy.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2022, lighting accounted for more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions1, equivalent to the impact of aviation.
Climate action has been at the center of Signify’s sustainability strategy for more than a decade. We took the lead in introducing more energy efficient LED lighting and have worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our entire value chain. Our current sustainability program – Brighter Lives, Better World 2025 – sets out to double the pace of decarbonization required under the Paris Agreement 1.5°C objective.
The Landscape Architecture Industry has been asking suppliers to produce Environmental Product Declarations. Signify, has committed to sharing the environmental impact of its full range of products. The company has already made available more than 2,000 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), covering more than 70,000 product variations around the world. Due to customer demand, the Americas are currently served by the Declare labelling system. As the EPD program continues, all products worldwide will ultimately receive EPDs.
Go to Philips to see the range of outdoor luminaries and download the EPD’s
In Australia – Contact Adam Carey MIES M: +61 428 079 317 for more information.
Article written by Adam Carey MIES from Signify
