Royal Philips Electronics said it will unilaterally phase-out incandescent lamps in the Gulf region starting with 100W and higher incandescent light bulbs from September 1, 2010.

This will be followed by the 75W in 2012; 60W in 2014 and in 2016 40W, 25W and 15W, the global lighting giant said in a statement.

With this plan, Philips is taking another step to help reduce energy consumption and carbon emission by supporting the switch to energy efficient lighting solutions, the statement added.

With the switch, consumers will save money without compromising on quality and style. Philips provides a comprehensive range of alternatives that help consumers to create the perfect ambiance at home.

“A switch to energy efficient lighting solutions is simple to make, yet the effect is tremendous,” said Louis Hakim, VP of Royal Philips Electronics and CEO of Philips Middle East.

'Estimates show that two third of the world's light bulbs are based on older, less energy efficient technologies. Significant savings can be made in terms of energy consumption, carbon emission and costs by switching to energy efficient solutions. This is unique; it offers a win-win for the environment and consumers at large.'

'However, the world will continue wasting energy if the speed of the switch doesn’t increase rapidly; therefore Philips is announcing its unilateral phase-out plan of incandescent lamps in the GCC to emphasize the importance of a switch for a sustainable environment,' Louis added.

Globally, lighting represents 19 per cent of the electricity energy bill. For homes, up to 80 per cent savings can be made by converting from conventional lamps to energy efficient ones. If GCC consumers switch their homes to energy efficient lighting solutions, this will already save up to $400 million and 5.1 megaton in CO2 emissions annually.-TradeArabia News Service