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Pushing Max Efficiency

At Integral, we are constantly seeking to improve the functionality and efficiency of our lamps and luminaires, so it is with great pleasure that we can announce the introduction of our Max Efficiency range. Available now as E27 filament, E27, B22 and GU10 lamps (all non-dimmable) and set to be expanded, the collection provides some of the highest efficiency ratings of any lamp or luminaire in the market today.

Providing at least 210lm/W, these super high efficiency LEDs meet or exceed the EU Labelling Regulations 2021 minimum for Class A specification and vastly surpass the capabilities of many older LEDs on the market, let alone more traditional lighting options like tungsten and fluorescent, without compromising on longevity.

Why Push Efficiency?

In a world where energy prices are rising quicker than ever before, and the need to curtail energy usage is paramount not just for our pockets but also for the environment, the push for greater efficiency is not only helpful, but also necessary.

Energy consumption is one of the most critical aspects in assessing a product's environmental effect over its lifetime. The amount of energy a product consumes, and hence its carbon footprint, may be greatly lowered by enhancing its energy performance. The lighting industry has undergone a remarkable evolution since the invention of the first incandescent bulb in 1879, more than 140 years ago, making it a true champion of leading industries' constant search for more efficient and sustainable products. This has led to the latest innovation in the lighting market: the ultra-efficient LED lamp.

Due to their lower environmental impact, variety of options and substantially decreased power consumption over older lighting, LEDs have become the go-to solution in practically any lighting scenario. Typically, 90% more energy efficient than incandescent lighting and saving over 50% compared with fluorescent options, utilising new Max Efficiency LED lamps and luminaires can provide substantial energy savings.

Comparison of cost per lamp type over the first 10 years of use

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Comparison of cost per lamp type over the average lifespan of an Integral LED Max Efficiency B22 GLS Lamp

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Replacing a single 60 watt halogen light bulb with an LED equivalent saves around 29kg of CO2 emissions per year. Replacing ten lamps with LEDs, can save 295 kg of CO2 each year. On larger scale projects, especially where all day lighting is required, think retail, offices and hospitality, this reduction in carbon emissions and the fast payback times based on energy saved has helped persuade both new builds and refits to invest in the relatively higher price tag and receive longer term pay-off.

Comparing our standard 8.8W GLS B22 bulb with our new Max Efficiency 3.8W version, there is a 56.8% reduction in power consumption. Assuming an energy cost of £0.34 kWh and a usage of 3 hours per day, this new Max Efficiency lamp can save you roughly £1.86 per year over our 8.8W versions. This means that over the lifespan of a single Max Efficiency bulb, you can save approximately £91 compared to the 8.8W equivalent (including the cost of replacement 8.8W bulbs). When scaled up to cover all the lamps in a household, this creates quite the energy and cost saving.

Additionally, the increased lifespan removes the need for more frequent replacements, reducing material wastage. Our newest Max Efficiency lamps will last 50,000 hours whilst a more standard LED lamp will last approximately 15,000 hours.

For every aspect of the industry from electricians to architects and lighting designers, the need to showcase green credentials as well as provide long term money saving potential is paramount and our Max Efficiency range delivers.

The Future

We may have called the range Max Efficiency but that doesn’t mean this is as far as technology can take us.

In 2012, a group of researchers managed to prove that it was possible (although only on a very small scale) to receive over 200% efficiency from LEDs. By administering just 30 picowatts of power to an LED they were able to achieve a lighting output of 69 picowatts – an efficiency of 230%! There are still several scientific hurdles which would need to be overcome to achieve greater and greater efficacy, but this research has shown that producing yet more efficient products should be possible, even if not to the level achieved in the study.

With the update of the labelling regulations in 2021, a previously A++ Class lamp providing an energy efficiency of 120lm/W, has now been re-graded with a Class E energy rating.

Having in only the 2 years since created lighting options which meet or exceed the highest current energy class, Integral can see further efficiency improvements and it may be that at some point in the not-so-distant future that the grading system gets reworked once again.

At Integral LED we will continue to strive for ever better efficacy from all our lighting products to better serve our customers and our planet.

¹Average calculated from UK energy price data; 1972-2022