We knew it was only a matter of time, and can I just say: IKEA, we commend you. The Swedish retail giant recently announced that by 2016, it will sell only LED light fixtures, eschewing halogen and CFL bulbs altogether. This move comes two years after IKEA began phasing out conventional lighting options in favor of energy efficient LED home lighting, including cabinet lighting and LED accent lights.

“Ikea believes the shift to the longer-lasting bulbs will help set an environmentally friendly example in the industry and also save the company about $10 million to $20 million a year, or 10 percent in lighting costs,” said Steve Howard, the company’s chief sustainability officer, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The shift began in 2010, when IKEA announced that it would get rid of all incandescent bulbs on its shelves by 2011. The focus then became halogen, CFL and LED lights. Further research indicated that LED lights continued to outperform their CFL and halogen counterparts in energy efficiency and lumen output, and so the decision was made to sell exclusively LED lights by 2016.

Not only a smart business move, this decision is a responsible one for the planet, as IKEA’s large impact on the lighting industry can influence many smaller retailers and individual consumers to make the switch to LED lights.

“This is sort of a call to action,” Howard said. Well done, IKEA!

Thanks to Inhabitat for the image