International Day of Light: Celebrating our heroes of lighting

A Signify team (then the lighting division of Philips) entered a US government-sponsored initiative to develop a quality energy efficient replacement to the much loved but energy inefficient incandescent light bulb. What was developed at breakneck speed transformed the world of lighting forever and continues to benefit society and the environment.

“I remember it vividly. It was the first week of January, 2009, when Coen Liedenbaum informed us about the L-Prize - the US Department of Energy competition aimed at spurring lighting companies to develop a quality LED energy efficient replacement to the 60W incandescent light bulb using less than 10 W. The prize was $10 million!
 

“The first project leader, Simon Kuppens, who’s still in the company, kicked off a project that eventually involved a team of nearly 200 people across 13 time zones. We had to produce not one but 2,000 bulbs that met exact and specific criteria, which in those days also meant establishing a completely new supply chain. It was seat-of-the pants groundbreaking stuff. But we did it and won – paving the way to the world’s first commercial retrofit LED light bulbs. I’m so proud to have been part of this amazing team effort.”

“We spent a lot of time listening to our customers before developing products to satisfy their needs and fit their budget. The transformative effect is amazing. After installing these lights, women were freely walking after dark and working late in the evening. Kids can play safely, and people can enjoy social gatherings. It was like a dream come true for all.
 

“For me, this is a game changer. We unlocked the extraordinary potential of solar street lighting by illuminating thousands of villages and provided clean energy for those in need. At the same time, solar reduces carbon emissions. It's a win-win.
 

“I'm inspired greatly by our lights being the only source of light in many flood-affected areas. This gives me a purpose to illuminate such places, to improve the lives of people and give them hope. Such is the power of our solar lighting.”

Philips Hue is the world’s leading smart lighting system for the home. Since its introduction in 2012, what started as a bridge and two bulbs has evolved into an ecosystem of bulbs, luminaires, switches, sensors and apps. It's changed forever how people experience light.
 

“Philips Hue came from a testing shortcut. The initial idea was just to use the then-new iPhone to mockup prototypes for user testing for Philips LivingColors’ remote controls.
 

“That decision led to an exciting result: we found we had created a better way to control lights. We knew we were onto something big when Apple agreed to sell Hue light bulbs in their stores. That’s when we began to understand that we weren’t working on a simple lighting product, we were creating a paradigm shift in how we interact with light in our homes.
 

“With Philips Hue, we've changed how people engage with lighting and we help them live better, healthier, happier lives. And that's the role technology should have – it should help make people's lives better.”

NatureConnect is ‘lighting inspired by nature’. It brings the benefits of natural light indoors, reconnecting us with the constant cycles and variations of nature for comfortable, engaging and attractive indoor environments.

“My inspiration comes from nature. Daylight is something so natural, that often we take it for granted. But light is as fundamental to life as food, water and air. It has a huge impact on our mood, energy levels, comfort, quality of sleep and our health and wellbeing in general.

“Using that knowledge, I am passionate about improving everyday life with light. For me, the sky is NOT the limit!”

Watch out for our next blog featuring more of our lighting heroes.