Energy-efficient light bulbs can reduce electricity consumption by up to 15 percent

(02/11/2009)

Lighting can represent up to a fifth of a household's electricity consumption. There is a four to five-fold difference between the energy consumption of the least efficient and the most efficient lighting technologies available on the market. This means that simply upgrading the light bulbs could reduce a household's total electricity consumption by up to 10-15% and save easily around £40 year (taking into account the purchasing cost of lamps).

Since September, some old-style incandescent light bulbs will start to be faced out from the EU market. They will gradually, by 2012, be replaced by more energy-efficient light bulbs, which will save both energy and money. The energy savings would be enough to power 11 million households each year, while saving every family more than £42 on their annual electricity bill. The new EU legislation also introduces a requirement for the approximate lifetime of the bulb to be stated on the packaging.

Thanks to the regulation, consumers in the EU are expected to save close to 40 TWh (roughly the electrictity consumption of Romania, or of 11 million European households, or the equivalent of the yearly output of 10 power stations of 500 megawatts) and reduce CO2 emission by about 15 million tons of per year. The regulation is thus expected to reinject about 5-10 billion euros in to the EU economy.

Conventional clear (transparent) bulbs are being phased out progressively, starting with the highest wattage, 100W conventional incandescent bulbs and above, since September 2009. This means that the most commonly used bulbs, the clear 60W bulbs, will remain available until September 2011 and 40 and 25W bulbs until September 2012.

All conventional frosted (non-transparent) light bulbs were phased out from September 2009. In practice, considering currently available technologies, this means that non-clear lamps will be compact fluorescent lamps, which save about 80% energy compared to conventional incandescent lamps, or LEDs. Consumers who for various reasons (aesthetics, size, shape etc.) would prefer another lamp technology can buy clear (transparent) lamps.

This is not a ban. Retailers are allowed to sell their existing stocks until 2012.

There are misunderstandings about the quality of light emitted by compact fluorescent lamps. They can produce just as much light as traditional light bulbs - one should look carefully at the packaging to find out the level of brightness.

Improved incandescent bulbs with halogen technology and light emitting diode (LEDs) lamps will also be available as alternatives to conventional bulbs, not just compact fluorescent lamps. Improved incandescent bulbs, which also produce light by incandescence, provide exactly the same light quality as conventional bulbs.

Coloured lamps are not affected at all. The regulation is aimed for household light bulbs. For special household lamps that are marketed for other uses, the regulation either allows appropriate alternatives or exempts them. And using any special lights, e.g. Christmas lights, will not be affected, either.

There have been claims that energy-saving light bulbs can trigger migraines or epileptic attacks. There is no scientific evidence of this and those worried about it will still have other alternatives to choose from, such as halogen lamps.

Some people have been concerned about the mercury content of compact fluorescent lamps. What they may not know is that lamps containing mercury have been used in most office and public buildings for the last 50 years without problem. The mercury can only escape if lighting tubes are broken. Under the new system, packaging and websites will give information on the safest way to dispose of broken lamps.

In fact, as compact fluorescent lamps consume less electricity, less mercury will be produced from electricity generation, reducing mercury emissions overall. Of course, compact fluorescent lamps should be disposed of in an appropriate way, in accordance with EU legislation already in place.

Related categories:  Energy efficiency   Lamps   Legislation and regulation