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EU switches off our old lightbulbs
Last updated at 00:07am on 10.03.07The death knell for the traditional lightbulb has been sounded.
Tony Blair and fellow EU leaders agreed that it should be phased out within two years to make way for the low-energy version.
They told the European Commission to rush through proposals to phase out incandescent bulbs - the conventional version with a filament - in private homes by 2009.
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The most likely plan is to ban the sale of such bulbs from that date, although existing stocks could still be used.
The replacement low-energy fluorescent bulbs are more expensive to buy. But they are longer-lasting and work out cheaper in the long run, as well as using far less electricity.
This will cut greenhouse gases because CO2 is produced in generating the electricity which powers the bulb.
Although low-energy replacements for halogen bulbs and others with non-standard fittings are currently hard to find, it is hoped that cheap and plentiful supplies will be in place within two years.
The massive switchover, which will affect all of the European Union's 490million citizens, was ordered at a Brussels summit as part of an ambitious energy policy to fight climate change.
It agreed a package of "green" pledges which should curb greenhouse gas emissions and see a switch to greater use of renewable energy sources.
The leaders also ordered plans for improved energy efficiency in office and street lighting which could be implemented by the end of next year.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the summit host, won praise for steering her colleagues to a complex deal on an issue affecting everyone.
And at her post-summit press conference she was at pains to point out that improving energy efficiency was not just about big business, industry and politicians.
"We're not saying people should throw out all the bulbs in their house today but people should start looking at what's in the shops," she said.
She admitted, however, to experiencing a problem many find with the low-energy bulbs - they are often too dim.
"Most of the bulbs in my flat are energy-saving bulbs," she said. "They're not yet quite bright enough. When I'm looking for something I've dropped on the carpet, I have a bit of a problem."
But, she said, the industry was now producing low-energy bulbs which are as bright as their high-energy counterparts.
She said climate change was something affecting everybody, and that everybody could help tackle it.
"I believe that each individual can make a genuine contribution through responsible use of lightbulbs and lamps," she said, although she declined to speculate on the energy efficiency of the brightly-lit press conference room in Brussels in which she was speaking.
Australia has already announced it is to ban incandescent lightbulbs. They are being phased out by 2010, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 800,000 tonnes a year by 2012.
Downing Street said the EU plan made "financial and environmental" sense.
In Brussels, Mr Blair said it had been estimated that if every house in Britain used three low-energy light bulbs, it would save enough energy to power the entire street lighting system for a year.
A Whitehall insider added: "This makes the issue of climate change a bit more down-to-earth, rather than setting highbrow targets. The EU have got to work out the detail, but we would like it to happen sooner rather than later."
However, any attempts to scrap the traditional bulb are likely to be phased in over a number of years.
The source said: "We are not in the business of forcing people to throw out perfectly good light bulbs. This is about saving money in the long run, as well as saving the environment."
Existing fluorescent strip lights are relatively energy-efficient. But halogen bulbs, used in spotlights and particularly popular in kitchens and bedrooms, are highly energy-intensive.
They can be replaced with low-energy varieties suitable for existing light fittings, but very few are currently on the market and they are very expensive.
Industry sources said however that as demand rose, the price would fall and availability would increase. For such bulbs, the phasing-in period is likely to be extended.
UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas said: "Banning old-fashioned lightbulbs across the EU will create a huge market for energy-saving designs, bringing the initial cost down, enabling the least well-off to benefit from regular substantial savings in their energy bills. It really is a win-win proposal: banning old-fashioned lightbulbs would be a step towards tackling both fuel poverty and climate change."
Under other elements of the green package agreed yesterday, Europe has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, and by the same date ensure at least 20 percent of energy consumption comes from renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.
The use of biofuels for transport is also to rise by 10 per cent, and every new power station will have facilities to capture carbon emissions.
Crucially, all the targets will be legally binding so if any of the 27 EU states fail to meet them they will be punished by tougher goals and fines.
The decisions follow two days of negotiations in Brussels and come only days before Mr Blair publishes the Government's Climate Change Bill. The Prime Minister said: "This summit has seen Europe embark on a bold and ambitious move on climate change."
However, businesses have warned that decision to make the targets legally binding could lead to an increase in taxes and a lose of jobs.
In a fudge, the EU leaders also failed to agree exactly how member states would share the burden of boosting renewable energy.
Britain, backed by the German EU presidency, wanted one fifth of Europe's electricity to come from wind, wave and solar power.
The newer, relatively poor member states, led by Poland and the Czech Republic, said they could not afford to invest in greener power sources.
Meanwhile, France, which depends heavily on nuclear power, insists that it should be considered a clean source of energy.
Reader views (12)
The half-baked mentality behind the push for Chinese-made, long-life light bulbs disgusts me. Aside from the fact that political prostitutes in Washington put themselves before the people, these new light bulbs will become an ecological disaster.
It is time for scientists and people who truly care to put politicians in their place - out of office [sans consecutive terms]. It can be done, but it will take much more than good intentions to stamp out this world-wide insanity.
- S C Mailen, Jr., Washington, Kansas (USA)
What about folks with light sensitivities? I have Lupus, and I can't use fluorescent bulbs in my home, or my skin begins to blister and burn. This is a common problem among those with Lupus and Porphyria.
- Danielle Sylvie Taylor, California
I wonder where the EU has been. I changed over from the old tungstan light bulbs to CFC's nearly eight years ago, but I was told that CFC's are at their most efficient if left on continually as the starting and stopping uses more power than a conventional bulb.
- Robert Coe, Brighton, England
We switched to compact flourescents several years ago figuring we would save both power and money. We saved power, but Pacific Gas & Electric raised their rates to make up for the "lost revenue".
- Janet Fuls, Cottonwood, CA USA
Acting more and more every day like a federal system of government with 27 provincial premiers.
- Phil Jones, London
What's the European Union ever done for us eh? (ignoring 50 years of peace and prosperity of course).
- Andrew, Cambridge
Now if they could just build the low energy bulbs to put out broad spectrum light instead of the narrow spectrum that usually causes eye strain with those who use them.
- Samuel Goodin, Oxnard, CA, USA
A modest and sensible step.
Will the retailers stop stocking them at an earlier date?
Will the electricity companies focus their occaisonal gifts of low energy bulbs on claimants of Pension Credit and Council Tax Benefit?
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, London, UK
About time too....
The energy saving light bulbs also have a significant impact on everyone's electricity bill.
Whilst they are at it, all disposable batteries should be banned, too and replaced with rechargeable ones.
- W, London
Although CLF bulbs have a place in the home they are not as green as we are led to believe.
They contain mercury and can not be disposed of in the normal waste stream.
They have a warm up period where light output is poor and for example are not good for lighting stairs being used in an emergency.
Also they do not have a good light output for all their life as they deteriorate over time and this is speeded up the more they are switched on and off.
And the heat traditional bulbs give out do reduce heating costs and this is generally not taken into account.
- Dave B, Nr. Gatwick UK
Seems appropriate - the lights dimming across Europe.
- Rogan M., DFW TX USA
Before forcing us all to use energy saving bulbs that inevitably contain mercury, the EU should first find a solution to the massive mercury pollution that will result when this bulbs will wear out and get thrown away..
Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known and is already heavily present in the food chain contributing to many common and severe ailments affecting milions of us.
- Andy, London
