A century ago, less than 10 per cent of the world’s population lived in cities. The next three decades will see the largest increase in the world’s urban population in human history. By the middle of this century, 6.5 billion people will live in cities, up from 4 billion today. By 2050, two out of every three people on earth will call a city home. Today’s cities consume more than 70 per cent of the world’s energy supply — a figure that will increase over time.
We are witnessing unprecedented urbanization and the rapid expansion of the middle class in emerging economies. This has heightened concerns about the secure, reliable supply of affordable energy, environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and loss of biodiversity, and shortages of materials, food and water.
As a result, resource efficiency is fast moving up the agendas of both the private and public sectors. Corporations and governments alike are having to develop strategies for a world in which natural resources and energy are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.
More energy needs, a greater drain on resources…something has to give.
More energy needs, a greater drain on resources…something has to give. Can smart technology support our cities of the future?I think so. Lighting accounts for 19 per cent of the world’s total electricity consumption. Almost two thirds of that energy is used for lighting commercial and public buildings in cities, with a further 15 per cent going to street lighting.
How will innovations in lighting lower the energy demands of cities whilst also shaping our urban spaces in future years?
Working together with The Climate Group
With that question in mind, Philips is working together with The Climate Group, the international charity working towards a prosperous, low carbon future. Together with The Climate Group, we launched a report in 2012 entitled Lighting the Clean Revolution: the rise of LED and what it means for cities. This report clearly demonstrated that LEDs are ready to be brought to scale in outdoor applications. Many commercially available, outdoor LED products offer cities high quality light, durability, and significant electricity savings in the range of 50-70 per cent. Through our partnership we have seen more and more cities begin to actively explore the switch to LEDs and request support and information. This was achieved through a series of workshops with cities organized together with The Climate Group, also focusing on the innovations in urban lighting.
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