The Joint Research Centre announced that nine EU-based companies have been recognised for their energy-saving efforts, thanks to the installation of energy-efficient lighting technologies. The majority of energy saving was due to introduction of the new T5 efficient fluorescent lighting, among other measures, which replaces conventional magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts.

The 2013 GreenLight Awards have already their winners. Nine EU-based companies have been recognised with these awards because they achieved yearly electricity savings equal to the total consumption of around 1200 households (3 568,5 MWh - on average, a household consumes 3MWh/year). The companies are AB Inbev (Belgium), France Quick SAS (France), Brussels Airlines NV (Belgium), Bayer Hispania, S.L. (Spain), Vinci Park (France), N.V. Mathieu Gijbels (Belgium), Banque de France (France), ABN AMRO (The Netherlands), and WinTO GmbH (Germany). In 2012, the winners were announced together with the GreenBuilding awards.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, highlighted that energy efficiency is a concrete example where research and innovation can really make a difference. She also added that the GreenLight programme brings great ideas to the market, provides opportunities for business and is good for the environment.

The JRC explained that the majority of energy saving was due to introduction of the new T5 efficient fluorescent lighting (which replaces conventional magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts), occupancy and daylight sensors and LED technologies. Most of the projects pay for themselves in less than 5 years, showing that investments in energy efficiency are very cost-effective.