Methodology
Topten.eu presents the most energy efficient luminaires for home use. The listed luminaires are measured in a certified laboratory or laboratory results are provided by manufacturers.
Technical Criteria
The criteria are:
- Only luminaires with LED light sources are accepted
- Luminous flux: min. 200 Lumen
- Energy efficiency:
- Luminaires with fixed lightsource (or exchangable by experts)
- Luminous efficacy (Lm / Watt)
- up to 750 Lumen: min. 80 Lm / Watt
- from 750 Lumen: min. 95 Lm / Watt
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- Luminaires with exchangable (by user) light source
- Luminaire efficiency: >70%
- Color rendering index CRI: min. 80
- Standby Power:
- max. 0.0 W
- max. 0.5 W with integrated dimmer/sensor OR communication device
- max. 1.0 W with integrated dimmer/sensor AND communication device
- max. 0.5 W per dimmer (e.g. with 2 dimmers and a communication device: 1.5W)
Alternatively (or additionally), a valid Minergie luminaire certificate can be submitted.
In the case of similar luminaires (product series), the Topten award can be transferred to other variants (e.g. from the 1 spotlight to the 2, 3 and 4 spotlights variants).
In the case of an LED luminaire with variable color temperatures, the one with the lowest energy efficiency (usually warmwhite) is specified; the energy efficiency values also refer to this color temperature.
For luminaires without a permanently installed light source, a suitable, efficient light source from the relevant store is selected for the laboratory measurement (referred to as reference lamp for test).
Order of presentation
Models are ranked according to their luminaire efficacy in lumens per watt (lm/W), The higher the value the better. The order of presentation can be changed by clicking the tables’ headings.
Glossary
Brand, Model
Brand with link to manufacturer website, name of model
Type of luminaires
Only luminaires with LED light sources are accepted
Type of lamp
Type of light source: LED = light-emitting diode. Usually permanently installed in the luminaire, no lamp replacement necessary. If replaceable, the base is indicated, e.g. E27 or E14.
Luminous efficacy
Ratio of the measured luminous flux of the luminaire (lumen) to the power (watts). The higher the luminaire efficiency (lumen per watt, lm/W), the better.
Luminaire efficiency
Energy efficiency of the luminaire, expressed in % (lumen of the reference lamp measured alone divided by the lumen of the luminaire with the reference lamp)
Reference lamp for test
For luminaires without a permanently installed light source, the appropriate, efficient light source has been selected. The exact article name is listed here.
Power
Measured value for power in watts (W)
Energy consumption
Estimate of the annual energy consumption of the luminaire in kWh/year. Assuming 1000 hours per year on and 7760 hours off (or in standby). This corresponds to an average of 2.7 hours per day during which the light is on.
Electricity cost in 15 years
Estimate of electricity costs over 15 years in Euro. The calculation is based on an electricity tariff of 30 cents per kWh and the annual energy consumption.
Power
Measured power consumption of the luminaire in watts (W). Measurement at full load (100%) for dimmable luminaires.
Luminous Flux
Amount of light emitted by the luminaire in lumens (lm)
Color temperatur
Lamps are available in different color temperatures (light colors). Reddish-yellow light is referred to as warm white, bluish light as cold white. In between is the so-called neutral white. The measure of light color is the color temperature in Kelvin (K).
- warm white: 2700 - 3500 K (as reference: incandescent lamp 2700 K, halogen lamp 3000 K)
- neutral white: 3500 - 5000 K
- cold white: 5000 - 10000 K (daylight 6500 K)
Color rendering index Ra
The color rendering index Ra (or CRI = Color Rendering Index) indicates how natural colors appear in artificial light. The CRI is determined from the average value of the color fastness of 8 different colors, the best value is 100.
- Daylight, incandescent lamps, halogen lamps: Ra = 100
- Energy-saving lamps: Ra = 80
- Fluorescent tubes: Ra = 80 to 90
- LEDs: good products Ra = 80 to 100, poor products Ra = 50 to 70
Dimmable / integrated dimmer
Not all luminaires can be dimmed. Some lights have an integrated dimmer, others can be regulated using a normal household dimmer. The manufacturer's/supplier's recommendations must be considered. There are two different types of dimmer: Leading edge phase control for conventional ballasts and trailing edge phase control for electronic ballasts. There is also dimming in steps: Different brightness levels can be set by pressing the button several times in quick succession.
Standby (W)
Power consumption in Watts when the light is off or in standby mode.
Standby (%)
Percentage of annual energy consumption for standby mode (%). Even a low standby power is significant (30 - 50%), especially for luminaires with very efficient light sources. Standby consumption in luminaires is mostly caused by the control gear. Luminaires that are completely disconnected from the mains via a switch (e.g. switch in the cable or connected to a light switch in the room) have no standby consumption.
Power factor
The power factor is the ratio of the active power to the apparent power and provides information about the quality of the operating device used. The best value is 1.
METAS
The luminaires awarded the METAS logo were tested at the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).
Infoplus
Standards and labels
Organisations
- The European council for an energy efficient economy eceee provides a status overview on all products in the Ecodesign & Energy Labelling process.
- Coolproducts informs about the EU ecodesign process. It is a coalition of NGOs' campaign for a stronger, fast Ecodesign Directive to save the climate and money.
- ECOS (Ecostandard) is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws.
- SLG Schweizerische Licht Gesellschaft, Bern
03/2024 Gross
Holtkötter Supernova P
Holtkötter Supernova D
Holtkötter Supernova S
Holtkötter Plano
Eglo Garabella