THE Lighting Division of Philips has joined the EcoCommercial Building Programme in Europe in a bid to create lighting concepts and environment-friendly product design that couple performance with environmental protection and cost efficiency.

The programme was initiated by Bayer MaterialScience, one of the world’s leading polymers manufacturers. Through an interdisciplinary network of partners, this programme offers decision-makers in the construction industry a comprehensive range of services and material solutions for the construction of sustainable public and commercial buildings.

As the world’s leading supplier of innovative lighting solutions and technologies, Philips brings to the network its cutting-edge expertise in developing and implementing energy-efficient, state-of-the-art lighting concepts. These concepts focus on users’ needs and on optimising energy and economic aspects throughout the entire lifecycle.

Bayer MaterialScience and Philips – through their Europe-wide collaboration – are pooling their know-how with the aim of jointly developing sustainable lighting systems for the construction industry and thus advancing the market for innovative lighting systems.

“We are committed to modern lighting solutions that utilise energy more intelligently, reduces costs and helps fulfill statutory requirements for reducing CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions,” says Andreas Rindt, business segment leader, Professional Lighting Solutions at Philips Lighting. “The best results in construction technology are achieved by the collaboration between specialists working together to develop customised solutions for sustainable construction. We believe that the EcoCommercial Building Programme makes full use of this approach.”

Philips supplies energy-saving lighting systems for a wide range of interior and exterior applications in both the professional and private segments. These include lighting solutions for commercial and public buildings such as retail stores, municipal buildings, offices and schools, urban and highway lighting, and private homes and gardens. One focal point is architectural lighting concepts intended to optimise urban environments and make them more attractive.

“Innovative lighting concepts coupling economy with ecology require the use of high-performance materials such as our polycarbonate Makrolon,” says Dr Dennis McCullough, head of the polycarbonates advanced resins division in Europe and Latin America at Bayer MaterialScience. “This material is used in the manufacture of energy-efficient LED-based luminaires, for example, which yield significant savings over conventional lamps.”

The alliance between Philips Lighting and Bayer MaterialScience makes it possible to achieve these savings when planning and implementing sustainable construction projects, as an element of the holistic approach taken by the EcoCommercial Building programme.

“Rising energy prices worldwide mean we need lighting systems that utilise electricity more intelligently,” says Dr Thomas Braig, head of the EcoCommercial Building Programme for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region at Bayer MaterialScience. “Intelligent lighting concepts and product systems therefore contribute significantly to sustainability in commercial building. Critical to the cost efficiency of environment-friendly buildings is the consideration of innovative product solutions in an early stage of planning, which is part of the integrated approach taken by the EcoCommercial Building Programme. This enables us to optimise ecological and economical aspects in new construction and modernization projects.”

Bayer MaterialScience’s EcoCommercial Building Programme is an integral part of the Bayer Climate Programme. It offers decision-makers in the construction industry a unique portfolio of services and material solutions for energy-efficient and cost-effective building. As part of the programme, Bayer MaterialScience is working with a network of members from various disciplines to support professionals, such as architects, project managers, building contractors, developers and managers of large companies, in creating public and commercial buildings that far surpass previous sustainability standards. Services range from energy-efficiency assessments during the planning phase to the use of environment-friendly materials and the generation of renewable energies.