CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. -- Swedish retail giant Ikea plans a move to all-LED lighting in its 38 U.S. stores by 2016.
Ikea reports that replacing existing lighting with LED, or light-emitting diode lights, will cut energy costs in half or more, and that the bulbs can last nearly two decades - about eight to 10 times longer than a CFL, or compact fluorescent bulb.
The move also includes selling only LED bulbs and lamps in stores. The LED initiative follows past Ikea programs like phasing out plastic bags in 2007 and incandescent bulbs in 2010.
"With household electricity bills continuing to rise rapidly and global energy consumption increasing, a small LED bulb can have a very big impact," said Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer for the company.
Ikea has more than 330 stores in 40 countries, a company press representative said, and all are switching to LED lighting.
