As part of its drive towards higher energy efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions, the UK government is taking steps to evaluate and facilitate public procurement of ultra-efficient lighting.
Ultra-efficient lighting is defined as any light source with an efficiency greater than 100 lumens per Watt (or approximately 7 times more efficient than the 60W incandescent bulbs often found in the home). This technology area has been targeted for several reasons including:
• the technological readiness of alternative light sources such as solid-state lighting (SSL)
• the significant potential impact on achieving carbon reductions
• the scale of the market opportunity
• the scope for public sector procurement to have a material impact on the market
As part of this effort to support energy-efficient lighting, Geoff Archenhold has been seconded as an Industrial Advisor to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). His role will be to develop Forward Commitment Procurement models across central, regional and local government departments to meet the Government's commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK's Climate Change Bill was introduced in Parliament on 14 November 2007, and is expected to receive Royal Assent by summer 2008. This Bill puts into statute the UK's targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through domestic and international action by at least 60 percent by 2050, and by 26-32 percent by 2020, against a 1990 baseline.
Archenhold's role is also to stimulate and assist the UK Solid-State Lighting supply chain to be ready for future public procurement opportunities. Other aspects of the role will be the need to stimulate cross-Government partnerships and to provide an action plan to introduce sustainable lighting within the public sector.
Archenhold has over 15 years experience in both traditional lighting and SSL, and is well known in the UK as the founder of the EuroLED conference. He is currently a member of the influential Photonics Leadership Group (PLG) think-tank, created by BERR after the launch of the UK Photonics Strategy in July 2006.
"I am delighted to be offered this unique opportunity to work with Government on such an important topic as ultra-efficient lighting," said Archenhold. "The public sector accounts for approximately 40% of the UK’s construction industry and is a large procurer of lighting, so it is important we ensure that new ultra-efficient lighting technologies are adopted as soon as possible.
"It is clear that new lighting technologies such as LEDs offer a realm of new opportunities for the public sector to enable them to meet the Government’s carbon emission targets, while offering excellent value for money through lower running and maintenance costs and improved environmental benefits.”
