Signify Highlights Connected Lighting Opportunity at Light + Building — and Takes One Question from EdisonReport

Signify opened its Light + Building press conference in Frankfurt with a polished video presentation and a clear message: lighting remains a powerful driver of energy efficiency, digital infrastructure, and smarter cities. But the event also had an exciting ending for me personally — the company took only one question from the media and it came from your humble editor.

A cinematic opening

The press conference began with a dramatic video projected across a massive screen. The film moved through scenes of automated factories, schools, plant growth, and homes illuminated at night. The narration described how lighting shapes daily life across cities, workplaces, agriculture, and communities.

“Every spark makes life a little better,” the narrator said.

The presentation ended with a constellation of stars gradually forming the Signify logo.

Tempelman outlines the opportunity ahead

Signify CEO As Tempelman then took the stage. Tempelman joined the company about six months ago and told the audience he has spent that time meeting customers, partners, and employees around the world. 

Those conversations, he explained, reinforced his belief that the lighting industry still has significant opportunities ahead despite a challenging year globally. 

Tempelman said the industry continues to evolve from conventional lighting toward integrated luminaires and connected systems. Although manufacturing volumes of traditional lighting have declined, the installed base remains enormous.

That installed base creates a major replacement opportunity as older systems transition to LED and connected lighting platforms.

Signify has now installed approximately 170 million connected light points globally. While that sounds like a large number, Tempelman noted it represents only about seven percent of the total installed lighting base. In other words, the opportunity for connected lighting remains vast.

Systems such as Interact, Dynalite, and WaveLinx allow customers to reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and enhance safety and comfort in buildings and public spaces.

Tempelman also introduced new innovations within the Interact platform that aim to simplify installation, provide deeper performance insights, and allow operators to adjust lighting systems more quickly.

Looking ahead, he suggested that automation and artificial intelligence will further expand the capabilities of connected lighting.

Lighting and the energy transition

Tempelman also focused on lighting’s role in global energy efficiency.

He stated, “In 2006, lighting accounted for roughly 20 percent of global electricity consumption. Today that figure has dropped to about nine percent, even though the built environment has expanded significantly.”

That means more buildings and infrastructure are being illuminated while consuming a smaller share of global electricity.

Tempelman described energy efficiency as the “hidden fuel” that enables electrification while helping control energy demand.

Outdoor lighting still represents one of the largest opportunities for energy savings as cities continue replacing conventional systems with LED. Indoors, new regulations such as the European Union’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive may accelerate building renovations and lighting upgrades.

At the same time, many early LED installations are approaching the end of their lifecycle, creating a second wave of LED replacement projects.

Sustainability strategy unveiled

The company also introduced its new sustainability initiative called Brighter Lives, Better World 2030. The program focuses on three areas: benefits beyond illumination, energy efficiency, and resource efficiency.

Signify says the initiative will help customers reduce energy consumption, comply with evolving regulations, and extend product lifetimes through circular design principles.

The company also reaffirmed its commitment to reduce emissions by 90 percent by 2040 as part of its net-zero strategy.

Connected lighting becomes digital infrastructure

Greg Nelson, Signify’s Executive Vice President of Systems and Services, described how connected lighting is transforming the industry.

Connected solutions now represent roughly 45 percent of Signify’s professional lighting sales. The company has deployed more than twelve million professional connected light points globally across its Interact, WaveLinx, and Dynalite platforms.

Nelson explained that lighting has evolved from passive infrastructure into a digital platform capable of sensing occupancy, monitoring activity, and adjusting lighting conditions in real time.

After an LED upgrade, connecting lighting systems can deliver an additional 30 to 40 percent energy savings.

Circular lighting in Europe

Sophie Breton, President of Signify’s Professional Business Europe, discussed how sustainability and circular design are shaping the European market.

Breton highlighted volatility in energy costs, supply chains, and labor availability while also noting increasing regulatory pressure around sustainability.

Signify’s “Circle” framework focuses on reducing material use, improving recyclability, extending product lifetimes, and enhancing performance.

Examples include 3D-printed luminaires designed so components can be replaced easily and retrofit solutions that upgrade existing luminaires instead of replacing them entirely. These approaches reduce installation costs, minimize disruption, and lower carbon emissions.

Only one question from the press

After the presentations concluded, the session moved to questions from the press. Surprisingly, the company took only one question from the audience.

That question came from your humble editor.

The question addressed Signify’s renewed presence at Light + Building after the company skipped previous editions of the show and asked whether the industry could expect to see Signify participate more actively in future trade events.

Tempelman responded that the company intends to engage more directly with the market. “This is a business where products and services matter, but success also depends on working with the ecosystem — designers, system integrators, distributors, and partners,” Tempelman said.  “Perhaps in the past we did not do enough of that. But we are back, and you will see us back at more events.”

Earlier this week EdisonReport published Signify’s official press release outlining the company’s activities at Light + Building.

Your humble editor also had the opportunity to conduct an interview with As Tempelman during the show. That conversation will appear later this week on EdisonReport.