Six sustainable Fagerhult features
1. "We treat metal sheets as if they were made of gold"
Minimizing the use of steel in production is an effective way to conserve resources, energy and transport weight. We do it by reducing the thickness of the goods – in Multilume Flat for example, we’ve optimized the sheets from 0.7 to 0.5 mm. In the design phase, we optimize utilization so that waste materials can be used for new details. For example a sheet can be used for the manufacturing of both the body and the mounting plate.
2. "We’re cooler than the average"
Ballasts are extremely sensitive to heat. When they are exposed to excessively high temperatures the luminaire’s efficiency and life expectancy are considerably reduced. Manufacturers of ballast always indicate a recommended temperature level, which may be exceeded by up to five degrees. In order to keep the margins on our side, we always develop our luminaires to keep a temperature five degrees lower than recommended. This actually means that our luminaires perform ten degrees below the manufacturer’s limit, doubling the lifetime of the ballast.
3. "We produce our own energy"
For our own production we choose electricity from renewable energy sources when possible. In our Swedish factories we mainly use energy generated by hydropower. At our large production facility in Habo we even have our own heating system powered by locally produced wood fuel. The school in Fagerhult village is also heated by the boiler.
4. "We screw instead of gluing"
By choosing smart, flexible solutions when assembling our luminaires, we facilitate disassembly for recycling. We avoid gluing fixtures as glue makes the luminaire difficult to disassemble or – worst case scenario – to recycle at all. Instead of gluing, we choose to assemble with screws. Some fixtures, like the new Multilume Slim, is assembled without any separate details at all. By using innovative folding taps in the design, the luminaire is folded like an envelope.
5. "We’ve reduced the material & weight in our downlights"
LEDs are constantly evolving, offering more light for less power. This means that we’ve also been able to optimize the cooling systems. For example, we’ve made a redesign of the two cooling bodies in our Pleiad G3 downlight; resulting in weight reductions by 167 grams (22%) and 100 grams (16%). This saves a lot of material and weight during transport. We’ve also reduced the coating of the bodies with one layer, with a positive environmental effect.
6. "We’ve got our own lighting laboratory"
Fagerhults lighting laboratory is one of a kind, allowing us to evaluate new innovative ideas and technology. Founded in the mid eighties, authorised by Semko (today a part of Intertek) in1993 hosts advanced technology to monitor every step of the development process. Through careful measurements, we optimize the luminaire’s energy efficiency while ensuring that the light is glare-free and contributes to a good working and living environment. Our laboratory is also certified to carry out the safety and quality tests required by law.
