By now, energy-conscious and cash-conscious people probably know it’s a good idea to use compact fluorescent or halogen bulbs instead of incandescents. But IKEA wants to help move the needle further and faster towards energy-efficient lighting: the company says that by 2016 it will only sell LED lights.
IKEA is one of the first large furniture retailers to do anything this drastic in an effort to encourage sustainability. And it’s not just for show; this move could have a real impact. According to IKEA’s numbers, LED bulbs are twice as efficient and last 10 times longer than CFLs. Spread that over millions of consumers (or even just the one million store lights Ikea will replace), and you’re looking at huge savings.
In part, IKEA is trying to make the numbers for LED lighting work. The company says that it will be selling LEDs at the cheapest prices out there, which is a big part of getting more people to adopt the technology. Consider that IKEA’s LED bulb costs $13, while its simple CFL costs only $5. Presumably, if IKEA starts moving more volume, it will be able to get the price of LEDs down to something easier to swallow. Will we ever see a $5 LED? Who knows, but this is a step in the right direction. Good work, IKEA. [Business Wire via The Verge]