SEAD Global Efficiency Medal for LED products awarded to four manufacturers

(eceee news, 25 Jun 2015) At a ceremony in Paris arranged by the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Super Efficient Appliance Deployment Initiative (SEAD), four LED lamp manufacturers were awarded the Global Efficiency Medal.

At the event, hosted by the United Nation’s Environment Programme UNEP, international and regional medals for GLS type lamps (“incandescent bulb replacements”) were awarded.

SEAD International winners

Nanoleaf received the international SEAD Global Efficiency Medal for a 75-watt replacement light bulb (greater than 800 lumens light output, warm white colour temperature of 2700–3000K). It uses 10 watts, or 87% less energy than a comparable incandescent light bulb and 44% less energy than a comparable compact fluorescent bulb.

The second international medal in the new technology category was awarded to Cree LED Lighting for a 100-watt replacement light bulb (greater than 1500 lumens light output, cool white colour temperature of 4000–5500K). It uses 18 watts, or 82% less energy than a comparable incandescent light bulb and 22%–30% less energy than a comparable compact fluorescent bulb.

SEAD Regional Winners

SEAD also recognized products that demonstrated the greatest energy efficiency in four competition regions: Australia, Europe, India, and North America.

Australia region: Nanoleaf
Europe region: Energetic Lighting
India: Energetic Lighting
North America: Globe Electric
North America: Cree LED Lighting

Unlike many competitions, SEAD tests products to verify claims before winners are awarded.

SEAD will announce winners of its Global Efficiency Medal competition for super-efficient commercial lighting products in August 2015.

Focus on phasing out directional lamps
Although the SEAD competition covered GLS lamps, the quick development of LED technology puts additional focus on the planned phase-out of halogen mains-voltage directional lamps, currently under assessment by the European Commission. Indicative of this rapid product development cycle, one of the winning manufacturers stated that they launch a new product portfolio every six months, and that they have observed a 20–30 percent price drop for a given performance every year. These statements are in line with findings of the report from eceee, CLASP, the Swedish Energy Agency and the Belgian government published earlier this year.  A Danish Energy Agency and CLASP report also support these accelerated market findings.

In the area of directional MV lamps, the Commission is required by the regulation to assess and provide evidence by 30 September 2015, whether there are sufficient, equivalent and affordable alternatives for directional mains-voltage filament lamps on the market. At a Consultation Forum held today, 25 June, the Commission indicated that their draft conclusion is that such replacements are available, and thus that stage 3, phasing out MV halogen directional lamps could go ahead. This position is supported by several member states and other technical experts who are part of the consultation forum.

However, this is disputed by the industry association, LightingEurope, and a few member states. The views expressed and battle lines drawn resemble that of the Stage 6 phase out of non-directional halogen lamps. However the decision on this occasion whether or not to phase out MV halogen directional lamps is not an issue that must be decided by the regulatory committee of member states. The SEAD Global Efficiency Award recipients have demonstrated that LED technology is ready, and offers consumers high-quality products that are affordable, available and will help lower their total life-cycle costs.

About the SEAD awards
The lighting awards are the fourth SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition. The first competition recognized the world’s most energy-efficient flat-screen televisions, the second recognized the most energy-efficient computer monitors, and the third recognized super-efficient electric motors. A fifth competition for flat-screen televisions is currently under way, with winners to be announced in September 2015. The SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition claims to be the only international awards program that identifies the most energy-efficient, top-performing equipment, appliances, and electronics demonstrating reduced electricity use.

For more information about the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition for lighting products.

SEAD is an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial and a task within the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation. CLASP serves as the administrator for the Global Efficiency Medal competitions. For more information .