IKEA & the End of the Incandescent Light Bulb

Emily Widle Light Bulbs, Lighting News
One of IKEA’s LED table lamps currently on their website. What do you think about this style, compared to a traditional table lamp with an incandescent bulb?

In our Roundup for June 14 to July 2, we noted IKEA’s impending phaseout on the sale of incandescent light bulbs.  We didn’t go into detail about what this means for the lighting industry, and it’s a pretty significant milestone.

With such a prominent retailer officially disassociating themselves from incandescent bulbs (IKEA’s phaseout is expected to begin in August and be complete by the end of the year), the shift across the industry from traditional bulbs to more energy efficient lighting accelerates.

Of course, these changes will take place across the entire lighting industry in the next few years anyway – IKEA is simply beginning the incandescent phaseout early.  In 2012, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will take effect.  There are various components of the law (see the link for more details).  Basically, by 2014, the sale of all traditional incandescent bulbs will be banned.

The phaseout also signifies changes ahead in lighting design.  CFLs, Halogens, and LEDs will take the place of incandescent bulbs, and that means new lighting designs corresponding with the more energy efficient light sources are to be expected.  The picture of the table lamp above illustrates this point: without incandescents, it will no longer be necessary to accommodate for a large incandescent bulb in the design of a lighting fixture.

The entire foundation of lighting design is going to change; and for lighting designers, the possibilities are endless.

Emily Widle

Emily graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism. She enjoys scouring the news to report on the latest in the lighting industry as well as bringing valuable remodeling tips and exemplar home projects to light.

4 thoughts to “IKEA & the End of the Incandescent Light Bulb”

  1. “Halogens?? “CFLs, Halogens, and LEDs will take the place of incandescent bulbs”??

    Halogens are a type of incandescent. They are just as hot, and due to their popularity in Ikea personal desk lights, are arguably more of a fire hazard than incandescents. So the real question is, are they getting rid of them too?

  2. Good point. You’re right. I was reading IKEA’s official press release about the phaseout and I completely missed that disparity. Halogens are certainly a type of incandescent, and heat output is a big concern, especially for desk lights.

    Thanks for pointing that out!

    To answer your question, IKEA will not be getting rid of their halogen lamps. Here’s the quote from their press release:

    “IKEA customers will have a good choice of other effective energy saving bulbs. While the compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) is the most popular bulb, IKEA also offers a range of LED lamps which are 70% more efficient than using incandescent bulbs.

    IKEA Halogen lamps which consume 30% less energy are also a great ‘white light’ alternative. And beginning fall, 2010, IKEA will offer a halogen bulb which can be used in a standard light socket. This is called a retro-fit halogen bulb. IKEA also offers solar powered lamps including their SUNNAN desk lamp and their ‘SOLIG’ range of outdoor lights.”
    (Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100615005511&newsLang=en)

  3. This is good news. But it’s correct that halogen bulbs aren’t included in the incandescent phase-out? They are incandescent after all. And they give off even more energy in heat than standard bulbs! (That plant-like Ikea fixture is awesome by the way.)

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