SWITCHING from conventional lighting to light-emitting diode (LED) lights is one effective way to save energy.
But lack of LED product standards have led to a proliferation of sub-standard units in the local market and these compromise efficiency and safety.
"As consumers, part of our responsibility is to practice smarter energy choices to make a genuine difference in power conservation." said Christine Villanueva, Philips country marketing manager for Philips Lighting, during a roundtable discussion at Abreeza Mall’s Cafe Laguna on Wednesday.
"Each and everyone of us has a stake and responsibility in building a more energy-conscious nation," she explained, adding that this can be started with smarter energy choices.
When it comes to electrical consumption, she advised, it is the little things that matter, like switching from conventional lighting to LED.
It is in this light that Philips launched a campaign dubbed as #MayMagagawaKa, which seeks to raise awareness and build urgency on energy conservation in the country.
The campaign is organized by Philips, Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) Bank, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).
The campaign comes on the heels of the Malampaya maintenance shutdown, which left a 700-megawatt void in the local power grid and renewed the mounting calls for energy conservation in the country.
Villanueva said that as part of the campaign, they are promoting the use of LED lights, which can save up to 88 percent or over 15,000 hours worth of light while maintaining 70 percent of its brightness.
She also said that switching to LEDs can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 50 to 70 percent.
Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, country manager of Philips Philippines, during the campaign launch on Wednesday, said that Filipinos should start saving energy to manage an impending power shortage.
"A power outage can be catastrophic for the economy. We lose the comfort of our homes and the stability of livelihood and business. It will impact all sectors, consequently, it will take the unified efforts of all these sectors to prevent it from happening in the future," she said.
Saving energy is also an emerging environmental issue. Lighting alone accounts for almost a fifth of global energy, equivalent to 1.9 billion tons of carbon emissions every year.
"We are consuming way beyond our limits," described Joel Palma, WWF president and chief executive officer. :Saving energy is one way to help manage this deficit, and with most energy coming from fossil fuels, less consumption of energy means lesser production of greenhouse gases, thereby lessening impact on climate change."
As part of the campaign, Philips launched an online video series on Facebook and YouTube last month featuring real-life testimonials from Filipinos, whose lives were or would be afflicted by power outages—including small-business owners, tricycle operators, employees, and homeowners.
"Each and everyone of us has a stake and responsibility in building a more energy-conscious nation," explained Tetteroo-Bueno. "Now, more than ever, we need to save energy. This starts with smarter energy choices."
On average, she said, lighting accounts for 20-30 percent of a Philippine household’s monthly electrical bill, underscoring its importance in energy conservation at the household level. Based on studies from Philips, switching to LEDs can reduce home lighting energy consumption by 85 percent.
Furthermore, studies from Philips illustrate that well-designed LEDs have an extended service life, greatly reducing waste generation when replacements are considered.
"Choosing the right LEDs can make a big difference,” remarked Tetteroo-Bueno. According to Philips, the right LEDs are designed in accordance with international standards of safety and performance—they do not dramatically fade in brightness over time and offer money for value. (With Billy Jay Limos, NDDU Intern) .

Source: Sun Star Davao