The European Design Competition "Lights of the Future" for Energy-Efficient Lamp Dedicated Fixtures: A Successful Example of Market Transformation

Flavio Conti, Flavio Conti Consulting
Paolo Bertoldi and Vincent Berrutto, European Commission DG JRC

Keywords

Abstract

Market research has indicated that to achieve durable market transformation and to substantially increase the use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in the residential sector, it is essential to develop and market attractive and well-designed CFL dedicated lighting fixtures. To this end the first European Design Competition (EDC) for designers, students and fixture manufacturers was launched in 1999, and winners were selected on 12th April
2000. The main challenge for competition participants was to produce innovative and attractive design solutions aimed at the residential market for lighting fixtures dedicated to pin-based CFLs. The competition attracted a very large number of participants, including well-known designers and the largest European lighting fixtures manufacturers. Among them, 27 models were declared winners of the competition. A European-wide marketing and promotion campaign for the winning models, carried out between May 2000 and December 2001, followed the competition. The winning models were exhibited at the largest European fairs on residential lighting.

In May 2001 the second EDC was launched and winning models were selected on 16th April 2002. In the second competition, the range of eligible lighting technologies was extended to include other high efficiency lamps, such as metal halide lamps and LEDs. In the second competition a wide participation was achieved and the submissions are of the highest level. The paper presents: the full results of the first EDC and the following marketing campaign; the preliminary results of the second EDC; and a preliminary qualitative assessment of the impact resulting from the continuation of the action. In particular the response to the policy action by luminaires manufacturers, designers, and consumers, will be highlighted.