Philips to Unveil the World’s First True LED Replacement for the 75-watt Light Bulb

“We continue to test the boundaries of LED innovation with exciting products that provide energy efficiency, ambiance and extraordinary reliability,” said Ed Crawford, General Manager of Lamps for Philips Lighting North America.  “Once again we have demonstrated that consumers do not have to wait for quality alternatives to the incandescent or to sacrifice the soft white light they have become accustomed to because LED can deliver all the benefits without compromising quality.”

The EnduraLED A21 17-watt is the latest addition to Philips’ comprehensive portfolio of light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that can efficiently replace traditional incandescents. These include 25W and 40W equivalents, as well as the ENERGY STAR-qualified Philips EnduraLED 12.5-watt bulb, the world’s first commercially-available 60-watt replacement.

The EnduraLED A21 17-watt, which uses the company’s high-power, next-generation LUXEON LEDs, has also been developed to meet or exceed ENERGY STAR qualifications for an LED-based replacement for the 75-watt incandescent light bulb. Those specifications call for delivering 1100 lumens with just 17-watts of electricity, a color temperature of 2700k, a color rendering index (CRI) of 80, and a rated life of 25,000 hours.  The new bulb will be submitted to ENERGY STAR in the coming months for qualification testing.

Philips estimates that about 90 million 75-watt incandescent light bulbs are sold annually in the United States.  Switching to this LED replacement has the potential to reduce energy use by 5,220 megawatts of electricity, a cost savings of approximately $630,000,000 annually.  According to Philips estimates, switching to the EnduraLED 21 17-watt could also eliminate 3,255,205 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually, or the equivalent of removing nearly one million cars from the road.

As with all bulbs in the Philips LED lighting family, the new EnduraLED A21 17-watt has a rated life of 25 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. Over its lifespan, the EnduraLED A21 17-watt could save a business or household about $160 per bulb.  Available during the fourth quarter of 2011 in the US, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for consumers has not yet been finalized but is expected to be in the range of $40 - $45.

With this latest addition to the Philips portfolio, consumers and businesses have more choices than ever that can reduce energy costs over the traditional incandescent bulbs. In addition to offering familiar soft white light, the Philips EnduraLED A21 17-watt fits into existing fixtures and works with standard dimmers, giving consumers a simple, long-lasting solution for the home.  For those within the retail or hospitality sector, the bulb will provide a substantial return on investment, through extended bulb life and reduced energy and maintenance costs.

About Royal Philips Electronics:
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs about 117,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.3 billion in 2010, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter