The Climate Group launches global initiative to fast-track corporate LED uptake

The organisation acting as a driving force in the corporate transition to renewables, electric vehicles and energy productivity has today (July 6) called on the private sector to slash energy demand from the built environment by switching to LED lighting.


The Climate Group, best known for its RE100 renewable energy initiative, is creating a network of leading businesses that will commit to switch to LED lighting, in order to create energy savings across the private sector’s building stock.

Around one third of global energy demand is estimated to derive from buildings, and The Climate Group has highlighted connected LED lighting as a fast-track solution for businesses.

The Climate Group’s chief executive, Helen Clarkson, said: “Improving energy efficiency belongs at the core of business strategy. Installing LED lighting immediately lowers energy costs while delivering on emissions goals. In this pivotal year for climate action, every successful, energy-smart company will make LEDs their first port of call.”

LED leadership

Research from Signify – formerly Philips Lighting – suggests that a global switch to LEDs could avoid more than 400 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, while generating more than £70bn in cost savings.

The Climate Group has already convened leading firms including Landsec, BT Schneider Electric, Swiss Re and Sky to share how LEDs can combine with smart technology and data collection to cut energy use in buildings.

The company will now drive greater business action on LED lighting, through a partnership with Signify that creates a knowledge hub of best-practice applications, explores financial mechanisms to increase uptake and engages with regional policy stakeholders to facilitate rollouts.

The LED project will build on The Climate Group’s EP100 initiative, which targets corporate energy productivity. In fact, many members of that alliance have already transitioned to LEDs, including H&M and Landsec. The other notable Climate Group project is the EV100, which focuses on electric vehicle uptake.

Landsec’s head of sustainability Caroline Hill said: “Landsec have ambitious, science-based carbon reduction commitments which are well supported by The Climate Group’s EP100 and RE100 campaigns. Investing in technologies such as LED lighting helps us achieve our goals whilst reducing operational costs for our customers and improving the resilience of our buildings.”

Matt Mace

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