Portuguese Cities Expand Installation of LUXEON LED based Street Lights

The implementation of efficient, attractive LED street lighting in Portugal has gathered pace over the summer as EnergiaViva has completed installations of the new UrbanLED street light in ten towns and cities. Installation work in a further 20 Portuguese municipalities is expected to have been completed this fall.

The UrbanLED luminaires were introduced in April 2009, when they were installed on a street in the Portuguese town of Pombal. The solution, which uses LUXEON Rebel power LEDs from Philips Lumileds, provide an attractive combination of power efficiency, CRI, uniform light distribution and low maintenance and repair costs.

These qualities have seen it quickly gain favor with other municipalities in Portugal. During the summer, UrbanLED street lights have been installed on streets in the towns of Alcochete, Moita, Barreiro, Arraiolos, Pombal, Santa Maria de Feira Vale de Cambra, Estarreja, Coimbra and Torres Vedras.

The installations have been carried out by EnergiaViva and the installations are as popular with residents as with municipality officials. The white light from the UrbanLED transforms areas that were previously a dark yellowish color from the high-pressure sodium lamps that they replace.

The forecast implementation of UrbanLED in towns and cities around Portugal is also proof of the compelling financial case that this high-efficiency, low-maintenance street lighting solution offers.

The accelerating roll-out of LED street lighting means that high-pressure sodium lamps could begin to be eliminated from Portuguese streets. "In the ten towns that have UrbanLED street lights, the municipal authorities are already seeing the benefits—a hugely improved urban environment at night time, lower electricity costs and a reduced requirement for the time of maintenance crews,” said Luis Mota, Director of EnergiaViva. "It's encouraging to see how many more local authorities in Portugal are also taking a long-term view and investing in state-of-the-art lighting. We see a complete national conversion to solid-state technology as a realistic goal over the next several years.”

The installation progress in Portugal is the result of a unique consortium of companies in the energy, lighting and construction industries. Exporlux and its development division BlueSpan, which is responsible for the luminaire design, and Rosas Construtores SA have joined forces and as EnergiaViva, deliver a complete solid state street lighting solution to municipalities.

About Philips Lumileds

Philips Lumileds is the world's leading provider of power LEDs for illumination solutions. The company's leading light output, efficacy and thermal management are direct results of the ongoing commitment to advancing solid-state lighting technology and enabling lighting solutions that are more environmentally friendly, help reduce CO₂ emissions and reduce the need for power plant expansion. Philips Lumileds' LUXEON LEDs are enabling new solutions for shop, outdoor, office, school, and home lighting applications. More information about the company's LUXEON LED products and solid-state lighting technologies can be found at www.philipslumileds.com.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG) (AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of $38 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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