Our obligation to the future

null

"We all must contribute to protect our environment as a living space for future generations. With energy saving light we can reduce the CO2 emissions that are responsible for global warming," contends Martin Goetzeler, Chairman of the Board of OSRAM GmbH..

The protection of the environment is central to our corporate culture.

As one of the leading manufacturers of innovative lighting solutions, our sustainable products and processes contribute to meeting the global challenges of the coming decades.

  • Lighting accounts for 19% of global electricity consumption
  • 2651 TWh were used for lighting in 2005
  • it would be technically feasible to save about 50% of that energy
  • if only 30% of the technical potential were realized, 450 million tons of CO2 would not be emitted into the atmosphere – corresponding to a new forest with the area of 450 000km² or the size of Sweden.

(IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (Genève))

Technologies for the future

Together with our partners, customers and employees, we test and develop new possibilities every day. Research and development is based on a comprehensive study into the trends, technologies and customer requirements that will dominate the market for lighting in the next 10 – 15 years. The study is titled a "Picture of the Lighting Future".

"Picture of the Lighting Future" – Summary:

  • Light currently accounts for 19 percent of global electricity consumption – this is the equivalent of approx. 500 power stations.
  • If this trend continues, energy consumption through lighting will rise worldwide by a third and in Asia by fifty percent.
  • Energy saving light bulbs and light emitting diodes could save 80 percent of the electricity required – and their working life is between 15x and 50x longer. The higher purchasing costs are more than outweighed by the lower power consumption and reduction in servicing and maintenance costs – this investment in sustainability finances itself just through the savings.
  • Optimising lighting systems consisting of lamps or LEDs, sensors and electronics will make a very significant contribution to energy savings.
  • New functions such as color control are possible: blue toned lighting during the day and red toned lighting in the evening support natural biorhythms and increase productivity.
  • New technologies will lead to new lighting experiences: scrolling electronic newspapers, adhesive films with integrated video, flexible instrument panel lighting, transparent lighting walls, etc.
Picture

LED life-cycle assessment

Light Emitting Diodes are among the most energy-efficient light sources available on the market. A comprehensive OSRAM study monitored the life cycle of an LED and an LED lamp.

Read More