An efficient downlight system for directing light includes a light source and a generally tubular, hollow coupling device with an interior light-reflective surface for receiving light from the source at an inlet and transmitting it as a generally diverging light beam through an outlet. The coupling device is shaped in accordance with non-imaging optics and increases in cross sectional area from inlet to outlet in such manner as to reduce the angle of light reflected from the surface as it passes through the device. A thermal-isolating region has an inlet positioned in proximity to an outlet of the coupling device and has an outlet for passing light to an optical member. An arrangement for splitting the light from the outlet of the thermal-isolating region comprises a plurality of light guides. Each light guide includes an inlet end for receiving light from the thermal-isolating region and an outlet end for directing light to a remote location. The inlet ends are substantially coplanar with each other and form a substantially solid shape. The coupling device and thermal-isolating region are shaped so as to distribute a respective, substantial (i.e., useful) amount of light to each of the plurality of light guides. Efficiencies of about 30 lumens per watt may be achieved.