October 31, 2007
Philips employees launch ‘Save the snow’ initiative to promote energy efficient lighting and raise money for Oxfam-Novib
Eindhoven, The Netherlands - Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG): In January 2008, forty five Philips employees, their families and friends, will attempt to climb Kilimanjaro 5895m in Tanzania to promote energy efficient lighting, as a part solution to climate change, and to raise money for an Oxfam Novib project in Tanzania.
The Oxfam Novib TIP water irrigation project in Tanzania has already tripled the harvest and incomes for 56,000 local farmers. "This event will make it possible for TIP to further teach the population how to make better use of the natural environment and will help to improve existing irrigation techniques. In this way the ‘Save the snow’ initiative has an impact in both Europe and Africa." said Thur de Kuijer, Oxfam Novib programme officer for the TIP project.
Energy efficient lighting has tremendous potential to help reduce CO2 emissions around the world. Figures show that more than three quarters of all lighting currently installed in the world today is based on inefficient technologies developed before the 1970’s.
If these were switched to more efficient lighting technologies, available on the market today, both consumers, businesses and the environment would benefit enormously. Figures show achievable savings of 106 billion euros per year in running costs and 555 million tons of CO2 per year across the globe
"Kilimanjaro is an icon for climate change" said Nick Kelso one of the organizers "We want to raise awareness, as employees and citizens of planet earth of the benefits of a switch to more efficient lighting".
For more information on ‘Save the snow’ please go to http://www.philips.com/savethesnow
Please note: ‘Save the snow’ is a private initiative of Philips employees and friends. Although this initiative is acknowledged and supported by Philips, the company is not accountable for it. Trade marks and logo’s are reproduced with permission of Koninklijke Philips electronics.
For further information please contact Nick Kelso
Philips Lighting - Corporate Communications
Tel. +31 40 27 56681
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 128,100 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care
and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.