European retailers are no longer able to order new stocks of conventional incandescent light bulbs since the latest phase of the EU’s Ecodesign Directive came into force on Saturday.
From September 1 onwards, energy intensive incandescent light bulbs of 40 W or lower will be phased out following similar curbs on higher wattage versions.
The gradual removal of energy inefficient light bulbs from the market began in September 2009, when minimum energy requirements were brought in for household lights, including incandescent and halogen bulbs.
Environmental group Friends of the Earth welcomed the move “pulling the plug on energy-guzzling light bulbs” as good news for consumers.
“Swapping out-dated bulbs for longer-lasting, energy efficient alternatives will lead to significant cuts in electricity bills,” says campaigner Andrew Pendleton. “And because they use only a fifth of the energy, less dirty fossil fuels will be burned.”
But he adds that the government must make every effort to make it cheap and easy for consumers to cut energy waste.
For further information:
ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sustainable-business/ecodesign/index_en.htm
www.foe.co.uk/
Related stories:
GE switches on LED replacement for 100 W bulb (10-May)
The right lighting could save UK businesses £700 million, says Carbon Trust (7-Dec 2011)
China to phase out inefficient light bulbs in five years (7-Nov 2011)
Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5337/
