Phase-out of incandescent light bulbs

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LED lamp, efficiency class A
Tubular-type compact fluorescent lamp is one of the most popular types among European consumers.
halogen incandescent light bulb

Governments have passed measures to prohibit the sale of incandescent light bulbs. The aim is to encourage use of more energy efficient lighting alternatives, such as compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs) and LED lamps. Brazil and Venezuela started to phase them out in 2005,[1], the European Union, Switzerland[2] Australia[3], in 2009;[4] and other nations are planning scheduled phase-outs: Argentina[5], Russia and Canada in 2012;[6] and the USA between 2012 and 2014 [7]

Regional developments

Asia

India

While not an complete ban, the plan is to replace 400 million incandescent lightbulbs with CFLs by 2012. The energy savings and resultant carbon emissions savings is expected to be around 55 million tonnes per year [8]

The state of Tamil Nadu in India has banned the use of incandescent bulbs in government departments, public sector undertakings, various boards, cooperative institutions, local bodies, and institutions running on government aid. [9]

Philippines

In February 2008, president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called for a ban of incandescent light bulbs by 2010 in favor of more energy-efficient fluorescent globes to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and household costs during her closing remarks at the Philippine Energy Summit. Once put in effect, the country will be the first in Asia to ban incandescent bulbs.[10]

Malaysia

The Government will stop all production, import and sales of incandescent light bulbs by or before January 2014, as part of efforts to save power and to help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Europe

European Union

The initial Europe wide ban only applies to general-purpose, non-directional incandescent bulbs, so does not affect any bulbs with reflective surfaces (e.g. spotlights and halogen down lighters) or special purpose bulbs including those used in ovens, fridges, traffic lights, infrared lamps etc. The sale of the most inefficient bulbs will be banned in a phased approach. The first types to go are non-clear (frosted) bulbs, which will be off the market by September 2009. Also from September 2009 clear bulbs over 100W must be made of more efficient types. This limit will be moved down to lower wattages, and the efficiency levels raised by the end of 2012.[11] Also, the EU has given the target of 2016 to phase out Halogen bulbs, and any bulb available for purchase after the 2016 date must have at least a 'B' energy rating.[12] The Finnish parliament has been discussing banning sales of incandescent light bulbs by the beginning of 2011.[13]

Ireland

The Irish government was the first European Union (EU) member state to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs.[14] It was later announced that all member states of the EU agreed to a progressive phase-out of incandescent light bulbs by 2012.[15]

Switzerland

Switzerland banned the sale of all light bulbs of the Energy Efficiency Class F and G, which affects a few types of incandescent light bulbs. Most normal light bulbs are of Energy Efficiency Class E, and the Swiss regulation has exceptions for various kinds of special-purpose and decorative bulbs.[16][17]

United Kingdom

The UK government announced in 2007 that incandescent bulbs would be phased out by 2011.[18]

North America

Canada

In April 2007, Ontario's Minister of Energy Dwight Duncan announced the provincial government's intention to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012.[19] Later in April, Canada's Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announced that Canada would ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases.[20]

The provincial government of Nova Scotia stated in February 2007 that it would like to move towards banning incandescent light bulbs in the province.[21]

Federal Environment Minister John Baird announced in April 2007 a plan to ban the sale of inefficient light bulbs by 2012. According to the minister Canada will save $3 to $4 billion Canadian dollars over the lifetime of the new bulbs.[22]

Cuba

Cuba exchanged all incandescent light bulbs for CFLs, and banned the sale and import of them in 2005.[23]

United States

Individual State efforts

California will phase out the use of incandescent bulbs by 2018 as part of bill by California State Assembly member Jared Huffman (D-Santa Rosa) that was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 12, 2007. The bill aims to establish a minimum standard of twenty-five lumens per watt by 2013 and sixty lumens per watt by 2018.[24][25]

Connecticut legislation was proposed by state Representative Mary M. Mushinsky (D-Wallingford).[26][27]

New Jersey Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis introduced a bill on February 8, 2007 that calls for the state to switch to fluorescent lighting in government buildings over the next three years. Chatzidakis said, "The light bulb was invented a long time ago and a lot of things have changed since then. I obviously respect the memory of Thomas Edison, but what we're looking at here is using less energy."[28]

Federal legislation

Many of these state efforts became moot when the federal government enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 in December 2007, requiring all general-purpose light bulbs that produce 310–2600 lumens of light [29] be 30% more energy efficient (similar to current halogen lamps) than current incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The efficiency standards will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014.

Light bulbs outside of this range are exempt from the restrictions (historically, less than 40 Watts or more than 150 Watts). Also exempt are several classes of specialty lights, including appliance lamps, rough service bulbs, 3-way, colored lamps, and plant lights.

By 2020, a second tier of restrictions would become effective; which requires all general-purpose bulbs to produce at least 45 lumens per watt (similar to current CFLs). Exempt from the Act are reflector flood, 3-way, candelabra, colored, and other specialty bulbs.[30]

Oceania

Australia

In February 2007, Australia enacted a law that will, in effect, by legislating efficiency standards, ban most sales of incandescent light bulbs by 2010.[31] The Australian Federal Government announced minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for lighting products. The new minimum standard efficiency level is 15 lumens per watt (lm/W). In November 2008 the importation of non-compliant lighting (which includes some incandescent globes) into Australia was banned, and from November 2009 the retail sale of non-compliant lighting is banned.[32] According to the current proposal [33] all regular light bulbs and some other kinds of light bulbs sold from October 2009 will have to meet the new minimum energy performance standards. Incandescent light bulbs that meet the new standards, for example high efficiency halogen bulbs, will continue to be available. [34]

It is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions will be cut by 800,000 tonnes (Australia's current emission total is 564.7 million tonnes), a saving of approximately 0.14%[35]

There have been some initiatives to encourage people to switch to compact fluorescent lamps ahead of the phase out.[36]

New Zealand

In February 2007, then Climate Change Minister David Parker announced a similar proposal to the one in Australia[37], except that importation for personal use would have been allowed.[38] However the proposed ban was scrapped by the new government in December 2008.[39]

South America

Argentina

In Argentina, selling and importing incandescent light bulbs will be forbidden starting 31 December 2010.[40]

Venezuela

As part of its electricity conservation program, Venezuela has a light bulb exchange program, which aims to replace millions of incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.[41]

Controversy

Public opposition

There is evidence of panic buying of incandescent bulbs ahead of the EU lightbulb ban. Many retailers in Britain, Poland, Austria, Germany and Hungary have reported bulk purchasing[42][43][44][45][46], and in Germany, sales rose by up to 150% in 2009 in comparison to 2008.[47] Two-thirds of Austrians surveyed stated they believe the phase-out to be "nonsensical", with 53.6% believing their health to be at risk of mercury poisoning.[48] 72% of Americans believe the government has no right to dictate which light bulb they may use.[49] The Czech Republic President, Vaclav Klaus, urged people to stockpile enough incandescent bulbs to last their lifetime.[50]

The phase out has been referred to as "Light bulb socialism".[47] The overwhelming consumer preference for light bulbs in the EU is for incandescent bulbs, with many complaining of the ugliness[42][51] and the cold, flat, unnatural, dull light emanating from CFLs.[43][47][52][53][54][55]. Objection has also been raised to being forced to adopt CFLs[56].

Museums and individuals have been stockpiling incandescent lightbulbs across Europe, owing to CFL's inferior colour representation.[53][57] The European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation has called for a speedy reduction of the mercury levels contained within CFLs from the current 5mg limit to 1 mg[58]. The European Consumers' Organization, BEUC, said that phasing out incandescent bulbs will be detrimental for people suffering light-related health issues,[59] and called for the continued availability of incandescent bulbs:

"The EU Regulation falls short of the needs of some consumers who need to use the old-style light bulbs for health-related reasons such as light sensitivity. We call on the European Commission to take immediate measures to ensure that people who rely on incandescent light bulbs will be able to buy these bulbs until suitable alternative lighting technologies are available. There are also concerns about the risks to health from the high mercury content of the new bulbs."[60]

A campaign group called SPECTRUM was formed by the charities Lupus UK, Eclipse Support Group, ES-UK, XP Support Group and The Skin Care Campaign as an 'alliance for light sensitivity' to oppose 'UK and EU plans to phase out incandescent lightbulbs'.[61] Their campaign has been picked up and amplified by the British Association of Dermatologists, calling for access to incandescent light bulbs for those who are medically sensitive to CFLs and other non-incandescent bulbs,[62] and the charity Migraine Action, stating that its members still suffer adverse effects from CFLs despite protestations from the light bulb industry.[63]

In the United States, one opponent to banning the incandescent light bulb is the lighting designer Howard Brandston, a fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. [64] He has attempted to raise awareness of what he believes are negative effects of the phase out. [65][66][67] [68]

Environmental and health concerns

Main article: Compact fluorescent lamp § Health issues

CFLs, like all fluorescent lamps, contain small amounts of mercury[69][70] as vapor inside the glass tubing, averaging 4.0 mg per bulb [71]. A broken compact fluorescent lamp will release its mercury content. Safe cleanup of broken compact fluorescent lamps differs from cleanup of conventional broken glass or incandescent bulbs.[72] The short term nature of the potential exposure (particularly after effective clean-up of broken CFL material) does not constitute a significant health risk to exposed adults (including pregnant women) or children.[73]

Cost and dimmers

The cost of CFLs is higher than incandescent light bulbs. Typically this extra cost may be repaid in the long-term as CFLs use less energy[74] and have longer operating lives than incandescent bulbs.[75] However there are some areas where the extra cost of a CFL may never be repaid, typically where bulbs are used relatively infrequently such as in little-used closets and attics.[76]

Some CFLs are not compatible with all existing dimming circuits. However, more dimmable CFLs are expected to become available as the phase-outs progress. Mains voltage halogen bulbs provide a more efficient dimmable alternative to common incandescent bulbs and are readily available.[77]

Some newer high-end LED bulbs are dimmable; this may be done using pulse width modulation circuitry inside the bulb itself. Such bulbs often cost more than twenty times as much as an incandescent bulb.

See also

References

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  2. ^ Tagesanzeiger.ch «Grosses Lichterlöschen für die Glühbirnen» (german)
  3. ^ Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
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  7. ^ THOMAS Record of Clean Energy Act
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  25. ^ AB 1109 Assembly Bill - INTRODUCED
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External links

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