Ikea to Replace All Lighting on Shelves with LED Bulbs

For years, lighting companies have been predicting a time when LED bulbs will become the standard, replacing not only traditional incandescent lights, but halogen and compact fluorescents as well.

That time has come for one global retailer, Ikea. Beginning Sept. 1, the company said Monday, it will sell only LED bulbs, part of its overall sustainability efforts. The company had planned a major investment in compact fluorescent lights, but it redirected it to LEDs.

[As solid-state light sources, LEDs have very long lifetimes and are generally very robust.  The low power consumption of LEDs leads to significant energy savings]

LEDs are more expensive.  Just a few years ago, an LED that was meant to replace a standard incandescent could cost $30.  But those who favor them say they offer better light quality.  And as prices have steadily dropped, in part because of government regulations making it easier for more LEDs to qualify for generous discounts, customers have been migrating toward them.  General Electric, Philips and TCP, an outfit that makes energy-efficient lighting under its own brand as well as for Home Depot and Walmart, have LEDs on the market for less than $5.

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