Sears Canada said that it would replace 130,000 inefficient incandescent spotlights with energy-saving LED lighting in all Sears Home and full-line stores across Canada.

The retrofit, which the company described as one of the largest replacements of inefficient lighting ever completed internationally, was due to be completed in time for the UN’s World Environment Day on Sunday June 5.

The retrofit will reduce the company's electricity use by more than 16 million kWh per year, saving enough energy to enable 197,000 families to use the most efficient washing machines for a full year.

Sears Canada is also banning the sale of inefficient incandescent and halogen lighting, becoming the first Canadian retailer to do so.

James Gray-Donald, sustainability leader and associate vice-president, Sears Canada, said: “Replacing inefficient lighting products with LED and CFL options is a major move to save customers energy and money, while empowering them to take sustainable steps at home.”

More LEDs at Macy’s

Meanwhile, in the US, replacement LED lamp manufacturer MSi says that Macy’s, a national department-store chain, is continuing its retrofit program announced last December.

As part of a wide-ranging program to reduce energy consumption and waste, Macy’s is replacing halogen lighting with LED lamps, including iPAR lamps from MSi. Last year Macy’s replaced over 130,000 60-watt halogens, and in 2011 another 280,000 LED lights will be installed in over 200 stores.

LED lamp sales surging in Japan

During May in Japan, sales of LED lights at major retailers surpassed those of filament light bulbs for the first time, according to an article on Daily Yomiuri Online.

LED lamps accounted for 42.3 percent of all lamps sold in May, says the article, outdoing filament bulbs (39.0%) and fluorescent bulbs (18.7%).

Prices of LED lights are dropping fast, as greater consumer interest in electricity conservation stimulates the market in Japan. Last month, the average price of LED lamps was about 2,300 yen (around USD 29.00), down more than 20 percent from May last year.

LSG reaches 1-million LED lamp milestone in first quarter 2011

Lighting Science Group (OTCBB: LSCG) says that it produced 1 million LED bulbs in the first quarter of 2011. Last year, the company produced and sold 1 million bulbs in total, primarily in the second half of last year.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson visited the company’s facility in Satellite Beach, Florida, to celebrate LSG’s production achievement.

"These LED lights prevent harmful emissions from entering our air, while also cutting electricity costs for American families and creating jobs for American workers," said Jackson.

Should the US reverse its light-bulb ban?

Not everyone thinks that US legislation that will outlaw the sale of inefficient light bulbs is a good idea. As an opinion piece in the Washington Times explains, bills have been proposed in the US Congress that would save the incandescent light bulb.