CONTACTS: Betty Hughes GreystonePartners/ 845-223-1950 betty@greystonepartners.net     Katie Pontius OSRAM SYLVANIA/ 978-750-2895 katie.pontius@sylvania.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From left: Charlie Jerabek, President and CEO of OSRAM SYLVANIA, Executive VP of and General Manager for General Lighting, Martin Goetzeler President and CEO of OSRAM GmbH, Ron Harris, Plant Manager for Versailles Lamp, Fred Siegelman, Mayor of Versailles, KY, and Henny Peters, Executive VP of and General Manager for General Lighting.

 
OSRAM SYLVANIA LAMP PLANT RECOGNIZED FOR JOINING EPA’S NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES
 
 
Versailles, KY (February 7, 2006) – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the OSRAM SYLVANIA fluorescent lamp plant in Versailles K.Y. today for joining the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) and committing to significantly reduce the elemental mercury content of their linear fluorescent lamps.
 
“OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in the lighting industry in finding new and innovative ways to reduce pollution while still producing a high quality, profitable product,” EPA regional administrator Jimmy Palmer, said.  “We commend the company for its commitment to reducing the level of this priority chemical in their lamps.  Voluntary partnerships like this are an essential way of advancing environmental protection.”
 
The EPA formed the NPEP to pursue the goal of reducing the use or release of 31 highly toxic, priority chemicals – including mercury – found in America’s manufacturing processes. 
 
“We continue to step up our efforts to reduce the amount of hazardous materials through the entire lifecycle of our products,” Charlie Jerabek, president and CEO of OSRAM SYLVANIA said.  “SYLVANIA is currently reducing mercury levels for our OCTRON® 800 series by 50 percent, followed by a substantial reduction in our 700 series.  Initiatives like these save over three-quarters of a pound of mercury for every million lamps produced.”
 
Throughout 2006, OSRAM SYLVANIA will celebrate 25 years of manufacturing OCTRON T8 fluorescent lamps in North America.  Since the product was introduced as a replacement for standard T12 fluorescents, usage of the lamps has prevented the dissemination of over 382 million pounds of CO2, 3.5 tons of airborne mercury and air pollution equivalent to over 23 million cars.  The growth of T8 usage has saved customers more than $26 billion in electricity costs and conserved enough electricity to run all five boroughs of New York City for 4 years.
 
“Environmental sustainability and stewardship is a commitment that goes well beyond our products,” Jennifer Dolin, environmental marketing manager for OSI’s General Lighting division, said.  “It’s a responsibility we integrate into product design, production, distribution and sales to use fewer natural resources, save energy, reduce emissions and recycle,” she added.
 
Today SYLVANIA markets over 800 environmentally preferable ECOLOGIC products – more than any other manufacturer.   It also is a three-time winner of the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award from the US EPA and US Department of Energy.
 
 
ABOUT OSRAM SYLVANIA
Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH.  Together we are the second-largest lighting
and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries.  We manufacture and market a wide range of lighting products,including automotive, electronic and magnetic ballasts, and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers, sold primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, but also under the OSRAM brand.  OSRAM SYLVANIA also offers lighting systems installation and maintenance services.  For further information, please refer to our Web site at www.sylvania.com.
 
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Versailles Plant Manager Ron Harris accepts a plaque commemorating the facility’s participation in the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities from Jimmy Palmer, Regional IV Administrator for the EPA, and Maria Parisi-Vickers, Deputy Director Office of Solid Waste at the US EPA