LEDs Brighten New Year's Eve

The 2008 New Year's Eve Times Square Ball will be double the size of the 2007 ball and will incorporate more than three times as many LEDs.

Philips latest lighting innovations help the newly-enlarged Times Square Ball save up to 20 percent more energy than in 2007. (Photos: Philips)

To commemorate the ball's 100th anniversary in 2007, Philips helped usher in a new era of lighting technology by converting the incandescent and halogen lighting to LEDs for the first time in the event's history. The bright and energy-efficient ball delivered 16 million vibrant colors while consuming very little power.

In 2008, the ball has been doubled in size to 12 feet in diameter and contains 32,256 Philips Luxeon LEDs -- more than three times as many as last year. This increased volume of LEDs will deliver a significantly brighter but also greener experience on New Year's Eve, as the LEDs used this year are as much as 20 percent more energy-efficient than in 2007, Philips said. This year's LEDs consume about the same amount of energy per hour as it takes to operate two conventional home ovens.

Workers assemble the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball.

"While New Year's Eve occurs only once a year, the LED technology on display in the Times Square Ball will soon evolve into a very real energy-efficient lighting alternative for consumers around the world, and will help drive a more bright and sustainable future for generations to come," said Kaj den Daas, chairman of Philips Lighting North America.

In addition to lighting the ball, Philips also is lighting the Times Square numerals (2-0-0-9) using Philips Halogena energy savers – a line of bright and long-lasting halogen bulbs which are 30-47 percent more energy-efficient than equivalent incandescent lamps.

For more information, visit: www.usa.philips.com