Luz Verde project distributes first one million free energy saving light bulbs in Mexico to fight local poverty and carbon emissions ahead of Copenhagen climate conference



Dutch partnership with Eneco Energy Trade, Royal Philips Electronics and ING Wholesale Banking makes distribution of 30 million CFLs to low and middle income households possible with support of the Mexican government

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Today the launch of the Luz Verde (Green Light) project was announced by the Mexican government and this will be the start of the distribution of the first one million free energy saving lights to local low and middle income households in Mexico ahead of the Copenhagen climate conference this December. Cool nrg, an Australian organization, will carry out this world first initiative that will see carbon trading fund a mass scale energy efficiency program to benefit Mexican households. The project is supported by the Mexican government and a partnership of three Dutch companies: Royal Philips Electronics, ING Wholesale Banking and Eneco Energy Trade B.V., a business unit of Eneco Holding N.V., a leading energy company in the Netherlands with a strong focus on renewable energy.

This groundbreaking Luz Verde project involves the distribution of the first million of the in total 30 million Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) with four free energy saving light bulbs per household. These CFL bulbs will reduce up to 80% energy consumption compared to traditional light bulbs. The project is set to cut carbon emissions by over 7 million tonnes over a period of ten years.

The project is the world’s first example of a household energy efficiency project under the United Nations Programmatic “Clean Development Mechanism” (CDM), which allows companies in industrialised nations to finance emissions reduction in developing countries. The saved carbon will be traded as carbon credits into industrialised countries where companies and Governments have strict emission reduction targets.

Guido Dubbeld, Managing Director at Eneco Energy Trade B.V., said: “Our partnership in the Luz Verde project is an outstanding example of our own innovative approach and long term view on the carbon market. We will go beyond the current Kyoto Protocol by obtaining the carbon credits of this project past 2012 as well. Luz Verde is a showcase of top quality CDM, which combines both environmental and social merits. It is a promising instrument for fighting climate change. We are very pleased to be part of this project as it fits Eneco Holding’s corporate strategy which strongly focuses on both renewable energy as well as energy efficiency.”

Philips sees the environmental challenge – and the sustainability opportunity – as one of a number of important global trends it is responding to. Mahesh Iyer, VP & General Manager for CFLi at Philips Lighting, said: “Philips has been vocal and consistently called for a switch to energy efficient lighting bulbs, since it provides a win-win scenario. With the switch, people will save money and immediately contribute to a reduction of energy consumption and carbon emission to combat climate change. Many governments are taking actions, and with this program we enable more people to benefit from the advantages. It is a great opportunity to accelerate sustainable development and adds to the difference in climate change we all can make with a simple switch.”

Stephen Hibbert, Global Head of Emissions Products at ING Wholesale Banking, said: “ING is delighted to be the first bank to fund a project under the United Nations’ programmatic CDM. Social and environmental responsibility is one of four core business principles for ING and our involvement with Luz Verde is a first-class demonstration of the way a financial institution can combine its particular skills and capabilities with those of others to promote sustainable development.”

The Luz Verde project will address the problems of poverty, inequality and environmental sustainability while still enabling a commercial return.