Leading global lighting company Signify is pushing the adoption of connected LED lighting faster by bringing its Green Switch energy efficiency programme to the Middle East. Customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be able to access the programme.

Goktug Gur, President of Signify for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Pakistan, said during COP28, "Governments must act immediately to uphold their climate promises and accelerate the process of phasing out fossil fuel consumption. This shift can be greatly aided by doubling the annual improvement rate on energy efficiency, especially energy-efficient lighting. This will free up electricity to power additional devices and aid in the electrification process.

"Through its Green Switch programme, Signify helps its customers find energy-saving solutions that both meet and surpass their demands. Their goals frequently coincide with those of government financing initiatives that can assist in launching these ventures. The fact that we are bringing this programme to the Middle East and supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates' climate ambitions makes me very happy."

The Green Switch programme makes it easier to switch to energy-efficient modern lighting, which lowers operating expenses and carbon emissions related to lighting. The programme, which was introduced in earlier to assist clients in navigating the European Green Deal, is already expanding to new markets as nations step up their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Since the inception of Green Switch, Signify has assisted clients with energy-saving projects made possible by initiatives such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the US and the European Green Deal.

United Arab Emirates has made a $163 billion investment plan available as part of its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has released a $180 billion investment plan with the goal of reaching net zero by 2060. This shift can involve energy-saving initiatives like switching to linked LED lights. An inexpensive intervention that can usually be performed fast and with minimal interruption is lighting upgrade. LED replacement projects start to recoup their initial capital costs because to their lower operating costs.

The world's progress towards achieving the objectives of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was assessed at the UN Climate Change Conference's (COP28) global stocktake. Doubling the annual pace of energy efficiency improvement can counteract rising population and income-related emissions while the world's energy consumption keeps growing. The Emirates may save US $455 million in energy expenses by switching to LED lighting, which would lower annual emissions by 2.1 million tonnes of CO2. One million air conditioners or 1.3 million electric cars might be powered by the electricity saved. Similarly, 3.3 billion m3 of water might be desalinated with the electricity saved by replacing all of Saudi Arabia's light fixtures with LED models.