by AF 1220 D5 — December 23, 2009—Royal Philips Electronics announces that it will light both the world-famous Times Square Ball and Numerals (2-0-1-0) entirely with energy-saving LEDs for the first time. Celebrating its tenth year as the official Lighting Partner to the Times Square Ball, Philips also announces that it has made the LED technology used in the New York City icon available to consumers by releasing a broad range of high-performing, energy efficient and long-life LED retrofit bulbs.
Philips changed the Times Square Ball’s light source from incandescent and halogen bulbs to high-power LUXEON LED technology in 2007-2008, and this year is converting the light source in the numerals to LED technology as well.
The Philips AmbientLED PAR 30 Longneck, a consumer version of the LED bulb used to light the Times Square Ball Numerals, is now available to the general public. Ideal for recessed lighting applications and consuming just 11 watts, the Philips AmbientLED uses 78 percent less energy than the 50 watt halogen bulbs it replaces, delivers over 400 lumens of light output, and has a rated average life of 25,000 hours. Philips’ new consumer line also includes a wide variety of other LED flood, spot, and candle bulbs that can be used in a broad range of popular recessed, track, and accent lighting applications in the home.
Often described as the “future of lighting,” LED technology offers the benefits of bright color, outstanding energy efficiency, long life, and minimal maintenance. Philips’ conversion of the light source within both the Times Square Ball and Numerals from incandescent and halogen bulbs to LED technology has helped to significantly elevate the brightness and impact of these global icons while reducing their energy draw by over 80 percent.
For more information, see the Philips Web site.
For more on the annual ball-drop tradition in New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve, see this Web site.
