Brighter lives: The future in connected LED light

Eric Rondolat on the ‘light bulb moments’ solving the energy equation.

Who: Eric Rondolat, the CEO of Philips Lighting — the lighting company that spun out of Royal Philips Electronics in 2016.

What’s the story?

A growing world means growing energy consumption, right? Not if we consume energy better, says Eric. Few industries can help us do this as exponentially as lighting can.

What’s driving change?

Advancements in LED technology has made electronic lighting far more energy efficient. However, it is when these lights become connected by the Internet of Things (IoT) that the real savings are made. It is estimated that connected LED lights reduce energy demand by 80%. With only 12% of street lights being LED, and only 2% being connected , the opportunity space is enormous.

What’s the big challenge ahead?

Connected LED lighting requires a whole new approach to providing light. The lightbulbs now last dramatically longer, but design, installation, maintenance and monitoring become critical; that’s why Philips Lighting are beginning to sell light as a service, by the lumen.