Nairobi to be Pilot City for Solar-Powered L.E.D. Street Lighting Project

Philips and Kenya's Urban Roads Authority will install solar-powered light-emitting diode street lights in Nairobi – a project that can result in 100 percent energy savings if implemented across the country.

"A new generation of solar-powered L.E.D. road and area lighting has the potential to transform life throughout Africa at a social and economic level," said Andre Dehmel, Philips' lighting general manager in Africa.

The pilot project is as part of the United Nations-led En.lighten effort which aims to accelerate global market transformation to sustainable and efficient lighting.

En.lighten said electricity for lighting is accountable for about 20 percent of global energy consumption and nearly 6 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

The best way to mitigate these is to start off with the cities that are the largest consumers of lighting, according to "Lighting the Clean Revolution, The Rise of L.E.D. Street Lighting and What it means for Cities," a report on the viability of L.E.D.'s in urban areas by Philips and nonprofit The Climate Group.

L.E.D. has a lifespan that ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, which is 50 to 70 percent efficient than conventional lighting.

"Through the new street lighting project, Kenya is indeed glimpsing a very different, more sustainable future for its citizens, the country and for Africa," said Achim Steiner, United Nations undersecretary general and United Nations Environment Programme executive director. – EcoSeed Staff