EUROPEAN COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 19 December 2012
Digital Agenda: European innovation lighting the way
On 19th December, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, Neelie
Kroes, and Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič inaugurate "Shapes of Light", a 12-month long
lighting installation that relies on advanced LED technology, which will be displayed in the
entrance hall of the Commission's headquarters in Brussels.
LED lighting is energy-efficient and versatile. The installation shows the potential of LEDs
in functional and decorative lighting and is part of the Commission's efforts to promote the
wider deployment of innovative LED-based lighting in Europe. LEDs substantially improve
the quality of lighting and open up new possibilities for lighting design innovation. Faster
deployment in public and private spaces will help reduce energy consumption from lighting
in Europe by 20% by 2020, one of the targets of the Digital Agenda for Europe (see
IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200).
Vice-President Neelie Kroes said: "LED lighting is so versatile today. It looks great, plus
the evidence shows it improves concentration and leads to better results in school
classrooms. I am proud that European businesses are LED pioneers."
IP/12/1404
Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said: "I was delighted to offer the Commission's
headquarters to showcase such a good example of European innovation. The Commission
is committed to lowering its carbon footprint and energy bills and so it is entirely
appropriate to host an installation that points the way to a greener future."
"Shapes of Light" is an interactive installation consisting of a group of illuminated human
shapes that symbolise the diversity of people in Europe. The shapes light up in the
presence of visitors and change colour and increase in brightness depending on the
number of visitors passing by.
The lighting installation is fully sponsored (that is, no cost to European taxpayers) by
leading European LED manufacturers Schréder following an open call for proposals. The
installation was developed in Italy and assembled in Belgium.
Background
Lighting accounts for 14% of electricity consumption in the EU. As incandescent bulbs are
being phased out in Europe, new energy efficient and eco-friendly lighting technologies
start to replace them. Solid State Lighting (SSL) is the most innovative technology
emerging in the market, saving up to 70% energy and reducing costs compared to other
lighting technologies. It is based on light-emitting semi-conducting materials that convert
electricity into light and comprises light-emitting diode (LED) and organic LED (OLED)
lighting.
SSL offers both high quality light and visual performance and increasingly good design
options. SSL can drive innovation in the lighting, construction and transport sectors and
offers tremendous opportunities for our businesses – many of them SMEs – leading to jobs
and growth in Europe. The European lighting sector employs today around 150,000
people. The move to SSL is a major challenge and at the same time a tremendous
opportunity for the further growth of this industrial sector.
Last year, the Commission's Green Paper "Lighting the Future - Accelerating the
deployment of innovative lighting technologies" invited research and business
stakeholders, government, civil society and citizens to engage in a public debate in Europe
and launch initiatives for accelerating the pace of SSL deployment. The three main
concerns raised by respondents include the risk of buying products of unproven or
insufficient quality, the lack of information for consumers and professional end users, and
high initial purchase prices. The European Commission is committed to raise awareness
among Europeans of the benefits of LED Lighting and this initiative is part of this effort.
The installation by Constructions Electriques Schréder s.a, Belgium, was selected on the
basis of an open Call for Sponsors published by the European Commission in March 2012.
2
Useful links
Solid State Lighting in the European Commission
Green Paper "Lighting the Future - Accelerating the deployment of innovative lighting
technologies" and results of the Public Consultation
Schréder
Hash Tags: #Lighting, #Photonics, #SSL
Neelie Kroes website; Follow Neelie on Twitter
Contacts :
Ryan Heath (+32 2 296 17 16), Twitter: @RyanHeathEU
Linda Cain (+32 2 299 90 19)
3