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SUSTAINABILITY / MANUFACTURING
Low energy technology
OVERVIEW
Replacing conventional CFL lighting with LED technology at Prysmian Group factories and administrative locations is a sustainable way for us to reduce our climate impact.
Depending on the combination of lighting fixture, tube size, colour and brightness each factory implement - the switch will ensures energy savings of between 50-70%.
EU LEGISLATION
EU has legislated to phase out CFL tubes according to the RoHS Directive 2011/65, which limits the use of hazardous substances in electrical equipment.
After 24 August 2023, it is no longer permitted to import or produce fluorescent T5 and T8 tubes in the EU - as they contain mercury. Sales of existing stock is still permitted.
This will further speed up our company conversion to LED lighting and maximize our energy and CO2 savings.
SWITCH TO LED
In 2021, 4 factories in the Prysmian North Europe region switched to LED lighting, which reduce their annual energy consumption by 20,832 GJ - corresponding to a reduction of 1,719 tons of CO2 emissions annually. In 2021, a total of 30 factories globally across 10 countries switched to LED lighting, which reduce their annual emissions by 2,000 tonnes of CO2.
In 2022, our North Europe locations had following reductions: (based on country emissions factor)
Traditional compact fluorescent fixtures produce UV light via a chemical reaction between gas and mercury vapor inside a phosphor-coated glass bulb or tube. When electric current is added, an ultraviolet energy is developed which the phosphor coating absorbs and causes it to begin to fluoresce or glow. LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology, on the other hand, is a semiconductor device that generates light through a process called electroluminescence. When an electric current passes through semiconductor material, it emits visible light.
Lumens show how powerfully a light bulb or fluorescent tube lights up. In the past, it was measured in watts, but now lumens are used - and most often stated in lumens per watts (lm/W). According to this measure, LED lighting provides a 70% higher light yield measured in lumens per watts than traditional fluorescent lighting. In this way, we can simultaneously save on energy consumption and ensure equivalent or better lighting in our factories. A linear fluorescent T8 or T5 fluorescent tube emits between 75–94 lumens per watts. Since LED efficiency has improved significantly in recent years, with an annual increase of 6-8 lm/W, an LED T8 or T5 fluorescent tube today generates between 138-156 lumens per watts.
When replacing CFL fluorescent tubes with corresponding LED lighting, there were many options to choose from in terms of type of fixture, tube size, brightness, color and of course watts. Depending on which combination each factory chose, they have saved between 50-70% on their electricity bill.
A linear T5 fluorescent tube has an average lifetime of between 20-30,000 hours, whereas a T5 LED tube has an average lifetime of between 50-60,000 hours - corresponding to almost 7 years in a factory with 3-shift and 24 hour daily operation.
LED tubes thus have twice as long a lifetime (+120%) compared to a CFL tube. This allows us to save on both the purchase of new materials and maintenance.
Compact fluorescent bulbs and tubes contain anywhere from 1-25 mg of mercury each, which is toxic to the human nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Therefore, we have ensured responsible handling of all discarded CFL tubes in accordance with EU Directive 2002/95/EC and WEEE Regulation 2007, with regard to disposal via dedicated recycling programs for hazardous electrical waste.
The global consumption of LED lighting has increased significantly in recent years, from a market share of 5% in 2013 to more than 50% of global lighting sales for residential and commercial applications in 2020. Going forward, to remain aligned with the goal of CO2 neutrality by 2050, 100% of all lighting products in 2025 must use LED technology.
Traditional compact fluorescent fixtures produce UV light via a chemical reaction between gas and mercury vapor inside a phosphor-coated glass bulb or tube. When electric current is added, an ultraviolet energy is developed which the phosphor coating absorbs and causes it to begin to fluoresce or glow. LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology, on the other hand, is a semiconductor device that generates light through a process called electroluminescence. When an electric current passes through semiconductor material, it emits visible light.
Lumens show how powerfully a light bulb or fluorescent tube lights up. In the past, it was measured in watts, but now lumens are used - and most often stated in lumens per watts (lm/W). According to this measure, LED lighting provides a 70% higher light yield measured in lumens per watts than traditional fluorescent lighting. In this way, we can simultaneously save on energy consumption and ensure equivalent or better lighting in our factories. A linear fluorescent T8 or T5 fluorescent tube emits between 75–94 lumens per watts. Since LED efficiency has improved significantly in recent years, with an annual increase of 6-8 lm/W, an LED T8 or T5 fluorescent tube today generates between 138-156 lumens per watts.
When replacing CFL fluorescent tubes with corresponding LED lighting, there were many options to choose from in terms of type of fixture, tube size, brightness, color and of course watts. Depending on which combination each factory chose, they have saved between 50-70% on their electricity bill.
A linear T5 fluorescent tube has an average lifetime of between 20-30,000 hours, whereas a T5 LED tube has an average lifetime of between 50-60,000 hours - corresponding to almost 7 years in a factory with 3-shift and 24 hour daily operation.
LED tubes thus have twice as long a lifetime (+120%) compared to a CFL tube. This allows us to save on both the purchase of new materials and maintenance.
Compact fluorescent bulbs and tubes contain anywhere from 1-25 mg of mercury each, which is toxic to the human nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Therefore, we have ensured responsible handling of all discarded CFL tubes in accordance with EU Directive 2002/95/EC and WEEE Regulation 2007, with regard to disposal via dedicated recycling programs for hazardous electrical waste.
The global consumption of LED lighting has increased significantly in recent years, from a market share of 5% in 2013 to more than 50% of global lighting sales for residential and commercial applications in 2020. Going forward, to remain aligned with the goal of CO2 neutrality by 2050, 100% of all lighting products in 2025 must use LED technology.
