Instrument Systems has recently installed a goniophotometer at the Ikea light measuring laboratory in Sweden, following the furniture chain’s decision to sell lamps and luminaires exclusively on an LED basis.
In September, Ikea became the first major global retailer to offer a 100 per cent LED lighting range by discontinuing all halogen and ‘energy-saving’ compact fluorescent bulbs.
The switch affects over 2.3 million bulbs sold by the furniture retail giant each year in the UK, along with an undisclosed number in its markets in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
Instrument System’s LGS 1000 goniophotometer serves two separate measuring tracks at the new Ikea TestLab to ensure determination of all spatial radiation characteristics for the complete Ikea lighting assortment. It supplies precise measurement of luminous intensity distribution, luminous flux, colour rendering index and colour coordinates as well as the verification of energy efficiency in accordance with the European Ecodesign Directive for energy-related products.
Ikea’s switch to LEDs may soon be followed by other retailers due to new regulations soon to be put in place. The European Union was expected to ban the sale of inefficient halogen bulbs from September 2016. However, in April it delayed the ban until 2018, stating that LED technology would not be ready to replace halogen lamps by 2016.
The decision to move towards LED technology has come at the right time, according to Ikea; the cost and quality has improved dramatically, compare to a few years ago when shoppers experienced ‘price tag shock’ with LEDs.
By adopting LED solutions within the home, a British household using an average of 10 bulbs across the home will be able to combat rising energy prices by saving up to £300 off their annual bill, according to the company.
‘By switching to LED our customers will use up to 85 per cent less energy which will not only reduce their carbon footprint but also help them combat rising energy prices,’ said Steve Howard, Ikea’s chief sustainability officer.
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