This holiday season marks Philips Electronics’10th anniversary as the official lighting partner to the world-famous Times Square Ball. Over the past decade, The company's investment in solid-state lighting has helped to marry the sense of tradition embodied by the iconic Ball with innovative technology. For the first time, the company also converted the companion Times Square Ball numerals ("2-0-1-0") to all-LED technology.
The company led the historic conversion of the Ball’s light source from incandescent and halogen bulbs to its Luxeon LED technology ushering in 2008, as well as its subsequent upgrade to even more energy-efficient Luxeon LEDs in 2008-2009. This year, Philips will complete the final step in its conversion of the entire Times Square Ball application to a powerful and highly sustainable LED platform.
The 545 custom-designed, scalloped LED flood bulbs lighting the Times Square Ball numerals use just 9 watts each, compared to the 40 watts consumed by the incandescent and halogen bulbs previously used, representing a 78 percent energy savings. The new LED bulbs are designed for outdoor use and are rated to last for 25,000 hours based on the unique usage factors in the Times Square application.
“Following our landmark upgrade of the Times Square Ball to LED technology over the past two years, we are very excited to deliver yet another innovative LED solution that helps to elevate the impact and sustainability of the Times Square Ball through the use of our powerful new LED flood bulbs in the numerals,” says Ed Crawford, CEO, Philips Lighting North America.
“Global icons like the Times Square Ball are not the only applications that can enjoy the benefits of LED technology. In addition to offering a wide range of professional LED solutions, we are delighted to offer a broad line of LED retrofit bulbs to consumers for the first time, enabling everyone to enhance their life with light through high-performance, energy-efficient and long-life LED lighting,” he adds.
