SYLVANIA ECOBRIGHT^TM HEADLIGHT BULBS HELP PROTECT DRIVERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Today’s Guest : Mr. Greg Bibbo, Consumer Products Marketing Manager, Automotive Lighting,  OSRAM SYLVANIA, Inc.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the lighting industry, Mr. Bibbo has expert knowledge on an array of lighting technologies available today, as well as the processes used to produce them.  Prior to his current role in marketing, he has held roles of increasing responsibility in engineering and operations management.  
HILLSBORO, N.H., September 13, 2009 – OSRAM SYLVANIA announces the launch of its new EcoBright^TM, headlight bulbs that offer excellent down road and side road visibility while reducing environmental impact.

EcoBright bulbs use nine to 21 percent less energy than SAE maximum design specifications, and are 25 percent brighter compared to aged standard bulbs. Over the life of a pair of bulbs, drivers can save from $2 to $19 in fuel costs and reduce a car’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions nine to 21 percent, or from 13 to 107 pounds, compared to bulbs operating to SAE standard maximums.

These environmental savings add up. If only one percent of registered cars switched to EcoBright, 21 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions would be avoided annually. The spirit of environmental responsibility extends to the production of the bulbs as well. EcoBright bulbs contain no cadmium or mercury, and qualify as lead-free by automotive regulatory agencies and the National Drinking Water Regulation for Public Water Systems.

“EcoBright is the perfect option for drivers who are concerned about being environmentally responsible, yet don’t want to sacrifice performance,” says Joe Verbanic, Marketing Manager for SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting.  “At SYLVANIA, we’re continually looking for ways to minimize the environmental impact of our products, production and packaging.  We also want to offer our customers outstanding performance and increased visibility.”

The company’s automotive lighting plant in Hillsboro, New Hampshire has an ongoing environmental program that has decreased water use by 94 percent over a 10-month period and reduced greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions by more than 4,410 tons over the past three years. The plant is an ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems certified facility, ensuring that there are formal environmental goals in place, systems to reduce environmental impact, careful monitoring, and independent compliance audits. These initiatives are all part of Global Care, OSRAM SYLVANIA’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility worldwide.

EcoBright bulbs will be introduced in retail stores across the country in September and will retail for $29.99 for a set of two bulbs. Actual performance results may vary by product type, vehicle model and usage.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting
OSRAM SYLVANIA, together with OSRAM GmbH, is the world leader in automotive lighting for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket.  The company’s global automotive lighting division has its principal North American operations in Hillsboro, N.H., with nearly 500 employees.  In addition to TS 16949, this facility has also achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications.  Automotive Lighting designs, develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art automotive light sources, including auxiliary, advanced halogen, LED and high-intensity discharge lighting for interior, exterior and forward lighting applications.  More than 400 lamp types are produced for cars, trucks, and electronics in facilities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Automotive applications for OEMs are marketed under the OSRAM brand while products for the aftermarket are sold under the SYLVANIA brand. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com/auto.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA
OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and specialty products that feature innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, MA, OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com.

“Global Care” represents our commitment to social and environmental responsibility worldwide. As a leader in innovative lighting solutions, we are dedicated to products and processes that contribute to solving global sustainability challenges, address economic needs and protect the environment for today and for the future.

These simple tips can help make night driving safer:

•    Change headlights in pairs before they burn out. Most headlights dim over time so evaluate yours every year for optimum performance.
•    Check headlight alignment. Misaligned headlights can be distracting and dangerous. Ask your auto service technician to align them for you.
•    Clean headlight lenses regularly. Wash headlight lenses when you wash your windshield. You’ll see better at night and in poor weather conditions.
•    Make sure all vehicle lights are working. Have a friend turn on your headlights and signal lights while you walk around the outside of your vehicle.