The glow of corporate social responsibility

One brand that recognizes how corporate social responsibility can brighten up a household, a school, a hospital or a community. In the case of Philips Lighting, the brand literally "lit" up a hospital unit that was in dire need of lighting.

Philips recently presented its revolutionary fluorescent lamp, the Philips Lifemax, to the Philippine General Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PGH-NICU), the country’s largest public neonatal care facility. The PGH-NICU, which admits up to 100 newborns afflicted with various complications, was the recipient of 1,550 Philips lamps in support of their various lighting needs (replacing old, conventional lamps).

"This will eventually translate into savings of over P500,000 for PGH over the next five or six years," says Adam Pineda, Philips Lighting country marketing manager. "So basically, we’ve helped them become more energy-efficient.

Pineda adds that by the time the PGH-NICU needs to replace the lamps, the babies would be six years old already. "We’re glad to be part of their lives early on. Philips looks forward to keeping them company for the rest of their lives."

Philips Lifemax will also be used on the NICU’s phototherapy units for treating babies with jaundice. (A vital piece of information: A phototherapy unit switches on 10 to 18 fluorescent lamps to radiate over a jaundiced newborn "since bright light shined over the infant’s yellowing skin helps normalize the production and excretion of the bile pigment bilirubin in the blood.")

The Philips Lifemax can last up to 13,000 hours (or six years) of constant use – roughly three years longer than ordinary fluorescents. Aside from its longevity, Philips Lifemax also consumes 10 percent less electricity than regular lamps (or approximately P300 in money savings per lamp).

"We’ve helped the PGH become more energy-efficient," Pineda stresses. "This is in line with the thrust of the company, especially with a looming energy crisis."

Pineda is not painting a gloomy scenario. The energy crisis has always been a reality waiting to happen in our part of the world.

"That’s why Philips recognizes the need for more energy-saving products," he shares. "Electricity rates have gone up by about 30 to 40 percent over the past months. Lighting is a major area where most households and businesses can save money."

Based on the calculations of Pineda’s team, lighting takes up 15 to 20 percent of the total electricity bill. With the Lifemax, households and business can save up to 10 to 15 percent on energy-savings per life point.

There are two kinds of fluorescents: the conventional one and Lifemax. The technology for the old lamps has been in existence since the 1940s. And the Philippines is one of only two countries that have been predominantly using those old lamps (the other one is India). The rest of the globe has shifted to the new format, which is Lifemax. A typical fluorescent lasts up to 8,000 hours; the Lifemax, 13,000. It’s cheaper and more efficient.

"It’s just a question of time," Pineda says. "I would even compare it to the shift from black & white TV to color TV – although it’s less dramatic. But it needs more awareness, since when it comes to lighting, a lot of people think, ‘Pare-pareho lang naman ’yan eh’. It’s our responsibility, our duty as global leaders in lighting to inform the public about more energy-efficient products."

For Philips, its current business strategy is not at all in conflict with its corporate social responsibility.