Integrating solar and solid-state lighting into homes during construction will also reduce the overall cost.

FORBES: Panasonic's Next Product: A Small Green Town

Philips said weak construction activity was hurting its lighting division, though LED light sales were up 38 percent as the new technology continues to replace traditional incandescent bulbs.

NPR: Philips First Quarter Profits Fall As Sales Slip

Although demand for LED technology was growing globally, we found that market potential in Russia was next to zero because out-dated sanitary regulations and construction codes prohibited the installation of LED lighting in houses, offices and other places of residence.

FORBES: Russian High Tech in Focus at St. Petersburg Forum

Healthcare sales fell at an underlying rate of 1% from a year earlier, while overall lighting sales were flat due to weak demand from the construction sector.

BBC: Philips sees booming LED lighting sales

They're doing a lot of construction work on South Street, putting on a new street lighting and installing little smaller and nicer trees.

NPR: Philadelphia's Gum Tree Cut Down