Forum Center / Comprehensive Report
Amid the global push for energy efficiency and carbon reduction, a wave of product upgrades is sweeping across industries, from transportation to energy-efficient appliances. Traditional lighting, in particular, is being phased out worldwide in favor of environmentally friendly alternatives. Leafing this trend, Yeh Lu-song, Chairman of Ho Hsin Optoelectronics, identified the green energy shift early on and pivoted toward low-voltage lighting systems, successfully breaking into the U.S. market. With rapid advancements in technology, Yeh envisions a future centered around low-voltage direct current (DC) systems, integrated smart control systems, health-focused lighting technologies, and IoT applications to secure a competitive edge in the highly dynamic lighting industry. This vision led to his collaboration with ITRI and eventual establishment in Tainan's Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City.
The Phase-Out of Traditional Lighting
Driven by the global pursuit of net-zero emissions, many everyday products are undergoing quiet yet significant upgrades. The EU banned traditional incandescent bulbs in 2012, and as of August 1, 2023, the U.S. has also officially prohibited their sale and manufacture. In response to this global shift, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has unveiled a 2030 energy efficiency strategy, aiming to transition all commercial lighting to LED by 2025. For traditional lighting businesses, adapting to this energy transition is essential to maintaining competitiveness.
A Pioneer in Low-Voltage Lighting
Yeh, who began his career in traditional lighting nearly 40 years ago, entered the U.S. market in 2003, becoming a supplier to five major American lighting importers. By 2009, recognizing the growing emphasis on energy efficiency, he shifted focus to low-voltage lighting systems, ultimately becoming a primary supplier of low-voltage lighting products for Lowe’s in the U.S.
Drawing on his extensive experience, Yeh sees human-centric and smart lighting as the future of the industry, driven by heightened health awareness and AI advancements. He emphasizes that smart control systems combined with health-focused lighting technologies have significant market potential not only in hospitals and office spaces but also in everyday households.
Investing in Taiwan’s Green Energy Future
In 2017, Yeh responded to the government's "5+2 Industrial Innovation Plan" by reinvesting in Taiwan. Building on his collaboration with ITRI, he later established operations in Tainan's Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City. In an interview with FTV's Decision Makers, Yeh highlighted how this innovative hub showcases Taiwan’s capabilities in smart green energy technologies to international clients.
This week on Decision Makers, Yeh will share insights into Shalun’s role as a research and development powerhouse for green energy technologies in southern Taiwan, demonstrating its potential as a cornerstone of Taiwan’s sustainable future.