Signify Academy Sustainability audiobooks

Connecting the dots on Light-as-a-Service (LaaS)

Signify Academy — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 09:38:33 +0200

Light is a must for any business, building or city, but finding the funds to invest in a lighting upgrade might not be in the plans. Instead of making a major upfront investment to buy, install, and manage a new lighting system, Light-as-a-Service (LaaS) provides an alternative. From the initial design and installation to operation and maintenance, LaaS allows businesses to invest in connected, energy-efficient lighting, while generating savings and optimizing cash-flow from day one

More on LaaS
Climate Transition Plan
Get in touch

How the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is driving more energy-efficient and livable buildings

Signify Academy — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:18:51 +0200

Buildings are the single largest consumer of energy in the EU. 85% of buildings in the region were built before 2000 and of those, 75% have a poor energy performance. With 37% of global energy-related emissions resulting from building and construction, as the World Green Building Council reports, renovation rates must increase from the current 1% annually to 2.5% by 2030 to be on track for its 2050 net zero target.

8-point action plan from the World Resources Institute

· Estimate how much you can save with the Signify Green Switch Calculator

· Learn more about the Signify 2040 Climate Transition Plan

partner with us

Climate policy should transcend partisan politics

Signify Academy — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:24:44 +0200

We must not allow the 2024 European Parliament elections to derail progress on climate action.

Opinion polls in every EU member state anticipate that the 2024 European Parliament elections will result in a shift to the right. Statistical models forecast gains by the right and losses by center, left and green parties. The election results will have implications on coalitions, alignments, and national debates within EU member states.

Link to the blog page

How to take effective action on energy efficiency

Signify Academy — Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 +0200

It's important to keep in mind that making the transition to energy-efficient lighting involves not just technological change but also social change. People have to want to make the switch. Individuals have to understand the positive effects of well-managed LED lighting on comfort and well-being. Businesses and cities have to understand its advantages not only in terms of energy and emissions reductions but also in terms of improvements to operations and quality of life.

Connected lighting and the energy transition in cities

Signify Academy — Fri, 03 May 2024 13:03:12 +0200

Cities can engage and work together to reduce global emissions

Commitments made through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Energy (GCoM) and the C40 Cities underline the key role of cities in transforming formal agreements into real action. Cities can institute and build on changes quickly, especially with the support of national and international entities, which can provide financial and logistical support to power innovation.

relevant links:

Sustainability strategies for industry

Signify Academy — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:36:00 +0200

Embedding sustainability goals within an industry or supply chain strategy broadens the definitions of value and risk. Value increases as consumers seek to purchase products from companies that embrace sustainable practices. A sustainability-centered strategy also gives companies a platform for managing climate-related risk. Increased value and risk management occur through efforts to decarbonize processes, reduce energy consumption, decrease waste, and extend product lifecycles. A range of competitive advantages become apparent by linking cost savings and earnings growth with sustainable approaches.

Important links:
recent McKinsey study
study submitted for the Steel Manufacturers Association

Intelligent lighting and the smart city

Signify Academy — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:21:26 +0100

The German city of Düsseldorf has set itself the target of becoming carbon-neutral by 2035. It sees the application of smart city technologies as key to achieving these targets and an intelligent public lighting system as the critical infrastructure for this transformation.

An article published in the Economist in February 2024

References

Building truly sustainable cities (by SmartCitiesWorld)

Signify Academy — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:53:11 +0100

How connected systems can help cities build sustainability and wellbeing into their indoor and outdoor spaces

Written by

Sue Weekes

News Editor,
SmartCitiesWorld

SmartCitiesWorld White Papers examine an emerging or growing trend in smart cities, highlighting progress so far and future development, as well as spotlighting case studies from cities around the world. In this report, we explore how cities are building sustainability into their indoor and outdoor environments.

www.smartcitiesworld.net

Directions in sustainability for industry (Signify in partnership with the Climate Group)

Signify Academy — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:44:52 +0100

(Signify in partnership with the Climate Group)

The word “revolution” points towards fundamental shifts in thinking or activities that cause fundamental changes in socioeconomic status. The impacts of each of the four industrial revolutions continue to ripple into the present and future.

As industrial economies progressed, people began to enjoy better lifestyles as access to lower-cost, mass-produced goods improved. Manufacturers and producers worked to sell the maximum number of products at the lowest possible cost. Higher salaries and better living conditions prompted an increase in population and the growth of metropolitan areas. Improved infrastructure, breakthrough scientific discoveries, and new technologies made travel and communication easier. The world became a smaller place.

Innovating the way to net zero

Signify Academy — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:20:52 +0100

LED lighting solutions and innovative technologies play a key role in decarbonizing industry
According to the International Energy Agency, in 2022 industry accounted for 25% of the world’s carbon emissions. This makes industrial decarbonization critical if net zero goals are to be met.

An article published in the Economist in November 2023

References

Connected lighting benefits people and planet

Signify Academy — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:52:10 +0100

Improving quality of life through creating liveable spaces is a key element of sustainable lighting solutions, in addition to their role in reducing energy consumption and emissions.
An article published in the Economist in November 2023

References

Interact City connected lighting: Improved sustainability and community equity
Signify Green Switch program
Signify Interact connected lighting system
Signify’s BrightSites solution
A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment
The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf study
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) Interact system deployment
The Vredenbergh care home in Breda in the Netherlands NatureConnect introduction

Global stocktake results require state and non-state action

Signify Academy — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:30:00 +0100

This article explores how it's imperative for everyone to work together, to renew and enlarge efforts to mitigate climate change, and has been published to coincide with COP28, which is currently taking place in Dubai!

Good change management depends on creating awareness about the need for change, building the desire of all stakeholders for change, and acquiring knowledge about the change.

The change management process continues by constantly gathering feedback to ensure that adoption and usage occur.

Link to the blog page

Winter’s coming. Are we ready?

Signify Academy — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:28:00 +0100

Explore how connected technologies can create the momentum needed to mitigate climate change through saving energy and cutting emissions, whilst also enabling progress towards sustainability goals.

As the winter season approaches in the northern hemisphere, the longer nights and shorter days require preparation and vigilance.
An additional twist exists for this winter in North America. The prospect of a historically strong El Nino event with its resulting cold and hot snaps adds another predictable—yet unpredictable—element. Ongoing regional wars—and the use of energy supplies as threats—add another layer of unpredictability to winter.

Save energy and keep the lights on

Some municipalities have tried to save energy by turning their lights off altogether, but this is not a viable solution for several reasons. Streets need illumination at night for safety, schools need light so that students can learn, hospitals need light for treatment and recovery, and public and commercial buildings need light so that people can perform their jobs properly and productively.

Listen and learn more.
Link to the blog page

Bright lights, cleaner cities

Signify Academy — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 17:28:06 +0200

Sustainable and connected lighting technologies are key to improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in the built environment.
An article published in the Economist in October 2023

References

A better climate future can happen

Signify Academy — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 08:18:35 +0200

The consequences of climate change become more apparent with each passing day. According to a reportfrom the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, without action from countries, corporations, businesses, and individuals, global temperatures will likely continue to increase and weather events will continue to set new standards for extremes.

Read our white paper Good connectivity: a key to decarbonizing the building sector here

Brighter #2: How can we accelerate the transition to a circular economy?

Signify Academy — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:23:51 +0200

The climate crisis demands intelligent solutions that help us live more sustainably and resourcefully. To mark our five-year anniversary as Signify, we’re hosting a series of LinkedIn Live conversations with leading global experts to discuss some of the challenges we face and the innovations we need to address climate change, circularity, food availability, health & well-being and more. (contact us for more information)

On August 29, Tahir Naqvi from Ellen MacArthur Foundation joined Signify’s Annette Steinbusch to discuss how innovative design thinking can create better solutions for users, reduce materials used, eliminate waste, and prolong the useful life of products.

#BrighterConversation #BrighterLivesBetterWorld #WeAreSignify

Connected buildings can help mitigate climate change

Signify Academy — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:58:18 +0200

In the European Union and the United States, major policies are defining efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve energy efficiency. The European Climate Law, for example, establishes a goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and includes legal requirements for EU countries to set intermediate targets for reducing emissions. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act commits to achieving a 40% reduction in economy wide GHG emissions by 2030.

Do you want to know more, go to our blog page where you can find relevant (source) links for more reading.

Why your business should take action

Signify Academy — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:25:15 +0200

It’s time for companies to take a leading role in climate responsibility

Seemingly continuous weather events—sometimes accompanied by rolling blackouts-- have stimulated greater public interest in climate responsibility. Companies that invest in green technologies –technologies and sciences that reduce human impacts on the natural environment--can reduce energy consumption, and have a direct impact where it is highly visible—for example, in the reliability and resilience of the electrical grid.

Do you want to know more, go to our blog page where you can find relevant (source) links for more reading.

It’s time to unlock America’s energy efficiency potential

Signify Academy — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:52:00 +0200

We can, We will

Climate Week NYC kicks off on the September 16, 2023, with an important theme: “We Can. We Will.”Leading politicians, businesses, and investors will be in attendance.

Relevant links:
the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
the Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Climate action requires consensus and compromise

Signify Academy — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:05:00 +0200

Climate Week NYC kicks off in September 2023 with a simple but powerful theme: “We Can. We Will.” The annual summit has grown to become an important part of the climate calendar, attended by leading politicians, businesses, and investors alike. Listen and learn more.

Link to the blogpost which comes with the relevant links for more information

Interview Toby Morgan, Climate Group

Signify Academy — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 12:05:52 +0200

Interview with Toby Morgan (Climate Group) about the trends in building decarbonization, also available in a white paper from Signify, in collaboration with The Climate Group.

The link to the white paper can be found here.

Good connectivity: the key to decarbonizing the building sector

Signify Academy — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 09:37:00 +0200

On a global scale, the combination of building operations, the construction industry, and building and infrastructure materials generates 40% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Experts point to the urgency to halve emissions this decade. To do so, building renovation rates need to increase rapidly—at least double in the EU.

The responsibility for decarbonization is shared. The construction industry must take steps to replace products and practices that contribute to emissions, while corporations must reduce emissions through green building renovations and new building designs based on well-being and sustainable products and practices. Building owners and operators must move ahead with connected and other technologies that attract tenants and provide increased ROI.

The decision to renovate may seem overwhelming because costs, but it turns out that improving the comfort, safety, and efficiency of a building yields an immediate return on investment. Property owners are learning that human-centric, sustainable buildings and workplaces attract and retain the best talent abd provide the best opportunity for attracting staff back to the office. Connected systems, including connected LED lighting, have an important role to play.

Learn about current trends in building decarbonization in this white paper from Signify, in collaboration with The Climate Group.

relevant links
Inflation Reduction Act
European Green Deal
Energy Efficiency Directive.
Climate Group
Energy Efficiency – The Decade for Action
Circular economy action plan
Renovation Wave
More can be found in the whitepaper

How can we help to create the net zero buildings of tomorrow?

Signify Academy — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:04:00 +0200

Today’s offices and homes can be dizzyingly complicated. With plumbing, wiring, insulation, and other systems, an entire world exists beneath the surface of an apparently simple property. Many people are unaware how the buildings they live or work in function the way they do. They simply hope that they work the way they want them to.

Listen and learn more.

Links to relevant source information can be found on the blog page.

Brighter #1 Removing barriers to accelerate climate action

Signify Academy — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:19:37 +0200

To mark our five-year anniversary as Signify, we are hosting a series of conversations with leading global experts. Together we will reflect on the challenges and discuss some of the solutions, innovations and collective efforts needed to address climate, circularity, food availability, health & well-being and much more.

To kick off this new series with Toby Morgan from Climate Group and Harry Verhaar from Signify.

Science is clear that we must drastically reduce our emissions if we are to avoid the disastrous effects of climate change. To reach net zero by 2050, we must act now, reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This commitment requires that we act with the conviction that the economy will transform into a very different model.

40% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings and, if left unchecked, they're set to double by 2050. Energy efficiency has a vital role to play in lowering energy demand, reducing emissions and driving the clean energy transition.

In the first of this series of conversations, we get under the skin of corporate and municipal climate action, discussing how public and private organizations can work together to remove barriers and accelerate climate action in the built environment.

- Aligning individual, municipal and corporate action
- Four building blocks of successful climate action
- Delivering a just energy transition
- Beyond efficiency - new business models for the sustainable economy

#BrighterConversation #BrighterLivesBetterWorld #WeAreSignify

AI for more sustainable cities

Signify Academy — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:37:00 +0200

Increased urbanization brings with it increased responsibility for cities, especially regarding the environment. Cities account for roughly 70% of global carbon emissions and over 60% of resource use.

Put simply, the world is on a collision course with an ecological reckoning and cities are one of the leading contributors. It follows that cities must also be leading drivers of change if we are to make good on our currently faltering climate pledges. And to successfully take climate action, artificial intelligence (AI) has a vital role to play.

links:

UN Report
According to Climate Group
UN-Habitat report: AI & Cities: Risks, Applications and Governance
Signify

Find out how you can make the Green Switch.

Discover other topic related blog podcasts, here.

LED lighting supports Australia’s net-zero ambitions

Signify Academy — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:59:12 +0200

Australia’s coal industry plays an outsized role in the economy, employing 46,000 people and generating over 50% of electricity. The country is now dealing with the effects of this fossil fuel. Australia’s average temperature has increased by over 1.47°C since 1910, and extreme weather events—including wildfires, flooding, and drought—have all increased in recent decades. Listen and learn more.

Relevant links:
Mr. Albanese pledge
Autralian Government assessment

How energy efficiency is creating environmental and economic value in cities

SmartCitiesWorld — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:50:40 +0200

Implementing LED lighting enables cities to take immediate action to become more energy efficient as well as deliver social, financial and ecological benefits.
Listen to an article published on SmartCitiesWorld written by Harry Verhaar: Head of Global Public & Government Affairs, Signify.

Relevant links:
Flipping the Green Switch for Europe
Brighten America for the US

Graphs:

Above and below shows the potential cost- and energy-savings of switching to LED lighting

New energy efficiency rules can change the education game

Signify Academy — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 16:14:09 +0200

Connected lighting systems offer young people a better classroom experience

When the pens went down on a new agreement to increase energy efficiency rates across the European Union, it’s hard to know whether negotiators were thinking about what the agreement’s impact would be on millions of young students.
Students switch off when they are forced to sit in classrooms which are either too dark or too bright for their needs. They are more tired, less attentive, and less willing to learn. Technology offers young people a better start in education and teaches them the benefits of energy efficiency from an early age.
Listen and learn more.

Important links:

Energy efficiency is a can't-do-without

Signify Academy — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:10:09 +0200

Find out more on how making the Green Switch or Brighten America can benefit your city and citizens, and our planet.
Find out more connecting LED lighting to a network
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

Energy saving tech can help solve global crises

Signify Academy — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:37:05 +0200

Find out more on how making the Green Switch can benefit your city and citizens, and our planet.
More about the European Green Deal Industrial Plan.
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

Connected LEDs are driving China’s decarbonization goals forward

Signify Academy — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 10:19:21 +0200

China’s “dual carbon” strategy seeks to peak the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. These twin goals are expected to create trillions of dollars of investment opportunities, with significant gains for emissions-reduction technologies and low-carbon industries. More information can be found on our website

How to combat the European energy crisis

Signify Academy — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:21:17 +0200

Five approaches municipalities can take to combat fossil fuel overdependency and soaring energy bills

To find out more about how lighting can play its part in tackling the energy crisis, visit our Green Switch site.

Blackouts put structural issues in the dark

Signify Academy — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:21:08 +0200

Energy-saving lighting blackouts put structural issues in the shadows
Find out more on how making the Green Switch can benefit your city and citizens, and our planet.
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

SmartCitiesWorld Cities Climate Action Report 2022

SmartCitiesWorld — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 11:23:13 +0100

Cities Climate Action Report

The inaugural Cities Climate Action Report from SmartCitiesWorld demonstrates the priorities of global cities as they look to build environmental sustainability and resilience for citizens.
Download the full report here

Please visit our web site signify.com/global/sustainability to discover more information about our sustainability strategy.
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

COP27- The good, the bad and the ugly

Signify Academy — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:26:27 +0100

An understated COP provided a few big wins—and some troubling losses
Discover more about our Green Switch programme, and how lighting is one of the quickest, easiest ways to take action and make a difference, now.
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

Keep the lights on and reap the benefits

Signify Academy — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:16:35 +0100

The electrification of transportation, heating, and other service systems are overloading the grid to a point where countries are at or near capacity. Lighting alone accounts for 13% of global electricity usage. Around half of all light points in the US and EU are still conventional—an enormous opportunity for rapid reductions of lighting-related energy consumption. LED lighting retrofits are relatively fast and easy, with few invasive activities involved.

Link to our website if you want to learn more.
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

A focus on solutions can close the implementation gap

Signify Academy — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:28:30 +0100

In this moment of urgency on climate action, the conclusion of Sharm el-Sheik’s COP27 seemed to satisfy no one. Its legacy is a hard-wrought implementation plan that combines heartening glimpses of progress with some equally disappointing gaps.

Discover more on how switching to connected LED can benefit us all, here.
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

Top 5 IoT sustainability trends for 2023

Signify Academy — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 13:34:21 +0100

What are the top 5 IoT sustainability trends to look out for in 2023.
The new year brings familiar problems for cities around the world. Many countries are still facing a multitude of crises: climate change continues to accelerate, economies are under pressure, and consumers are coping with inflation and skyrocketing energy bills and a new year also brings a renewed sense of optimism and fresh focus.
Discover more about the benefits of switching to smart connected LED lighting, here.
More information on EU Green Deal, the US 2022 Inflation Reduction Act an ASEAN Infrastructure Fund
Contact Us for commercial inquiries

The time to act on energy efficiency is now

Signify Academy — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 13:34:14 +0100

The time for municipalities to act on energy efficiency is now. Switching conventional, energy-efficient lighting to highly efficient LED and connected LED lighting is an easy win for cities of all sizes. Taking immediate action will help put Europe on the trajectory set out in the European Green Deal. Weighing the potential benefits against the current crises, you can’t afford not to.
Link to Green Switch
Contact Us for commercial inquiries