Lighting in Design May-June 2015

Digital LED illumination for Cape Town monuments

A s a contribution to enhancing the attractiveness of iconic monuments while reducing energy consump- tion across Africa (a project started during last year’s roadshow), Philips has installed its latest Vaya LED lighting solutions combining warm and cool daylight colours to create an almost mythical atmosphere around the Clock Tower, the Port Captain’s building and the Swing Bridge. The installed lighting has a lifetime of up to 50 000 hours and each luminaire has its own IP address; a precursor to the future of connected lighting in an environment steeped in history. Lighting is thought to consume around 15% [1] of the total electricity output of an industrialised economy like South Africa’s; it has been calculated that approximately half of a city’s energy bill goes on lighting – for public offices, schools and outdoor environments. It is possible to make significant savings – on average 40% – simply by switching to energy- efficient lighting technologies. With electricity use being a constant concern across the continent, workable and sustainable solutions are essential. Driven by an increase in urbanisation and transformation, a tremendous opportunity for economic and social develop- ment exists; however, large scale growth also presents chal- lenges with regard to energy and energy efficiency is crucial to achieving smart cities of the future that are liveable, safe and aesthetically pleasing. Philips, a leader in LED lighting, kicked off its sixth consecutive Cape Town to Cairo roadshow by lighting up the Clock Tower, the Port Captain’s building and the Swing Bridge, at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. This year’s roadshow theme is ‘Sustainability through innovation’.

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