Eindhoven, the Netherlands – Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has through the Signify Foundation, and in collaboration with the City Hall of São Paulo and the Union of Residents of Paraisópolis, started an initiative to improve the wellbeing and safety of residents of the Paraisópolis favela by installing LED lighting. As part of the ‘Light Up Paraisópolis’ project, more than 190 Philips GreenVision Xceed LEDs were installed in strategic areas across this Brazilian community that houses more than 100,000 people, and which is São Paulo’s second-largest favela. Additionally, ‘Light Up Paraisópolis’ helps to promote social and economic development amidst the current context of social isolation.
This Signify initiative has a very significant role for the population living in Paraisópolis, as today we can witness how a slum is transformed into a neighborhood.”
Gilson Rodrigues
community leader of Paraisópolis
It is estimated that the project supports more than 25,000 people, as it completely transforms previously poorly lit spaces into well-illuminated paths so residents can make their daily commute to work, school or leisure. Thanks to the lighting, shops can also stay open for longer, helping small businesses to generate more income, expanding employment opportunities and giving a boost to the local commerce ecosystem.
“This Signify initiative has a very significant role for the population living in Paraisópolis, as today we can witness how a slum is transformed into a neighborhood. With the luminaires installed in six zones, based on the demand of the residents themselves, people who live here can move more safely and live better, which has a positive impact on the region, both socially and economically speaking,” said Gilson Rodrigues, community leader of Paraisópolis.
For Signify, the ‘Light up Paraisópolis’ project has become an important case that illustrates how the prioritization of lighting can be a determining factor when developing policies for the population.”
Sergio Costa,
Country Leader for Signify Brazil
The project is the outcome of a partnership between the Signify Foundation, the Union of Residents of Paraisópolis and the City Hall of São Paulo through the Department of Public Lighting, called ILUME. It has the objective to help people’s lives and reinforce the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. “For Signify, the ‘Light up Paraisópolis’ project has become an important case that illustrates how the prioritization of lighting can be a determining factor when developing policies for the population,” explains Sergio Costa, Country Leader for Signify Brazil. “This illustrates our commitment to bringing Brazilian inhabitants’ quality and sustainable lighting that makes a real difference in their daily lives.”
Technology in favor of the population
The Philips GreenVision Xceed LED solutions installed in the ‘Light up Paraisópolis’ project are suitable for a wide variety of public spaces, as they are designed to provide the best uniformity in lighting and comfort for pedestrians with less energy consumption. The installed luminaires are up to 50% more energy efficient than conventional technology with a life cycle of up to 40,000 hours.
6 million lives lit by Signify Foundation
In a world where more than one billion people have no reliable access to power, electric light is a distant dream for many. The Signify Foundation is committed to ending this imbalance by enabling easy access to the benefits of sustainable lighting solutions to underserved communities across Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, among other regions.
In 2020, the foundation lit 994,184 lives with sustainable lighting, and supported 9,276 people with technical and/or business training. In total the foundation has now lit more than 6 million lives.
Signify continues to support the local community through initiatives that aim to help people at a time that they are already vulnerable, which has only increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. To support the people with a low income, that are living in difficult conditions, Signify, in addition to the ‘Light up Paraisópolis’ project, donated various supplies according to the needs the residents reported themselves. This included the delivery of tables, pans, gas canister, among others.
Learn more about the Signify Foundation and visit our website: signify.com/global/our-company/signify-foundation.
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