09.10.2009

The new EU directive orders incandescent light bulbs and other high-energy light bulbs to be phased out from 1 September 2009.

Incandescent light bulbs will be replaced by energy-saving lamps, halogen lamps and LEDs.
From 1 September 2009, the first light bulbs will disappear from the shops. The first lamps to disappear will be the 80W incandescent light bulbs and frosted bulbs that are not in the energy class A. Other light bulbs and wattages will be banned in 12 month periods, and by September 2012 all lamps over 7W will have left the markets.
According to the EU countries, the change to energy-saving lamps would save the same amount of energy as the whole of Romania or 11 million households consume in a year. The EU calculates that by switching to energy-saving lamps an average household would save up to 25 – 50 euros in the annual electric bill.
The banning of light bulbs will proceed to the EU Parliament, and the final decision on the matter will probably be made during the spring.
The new EU directive only concerns selling. The consumers can still use light bulbs that they already have in their homes.
Kauppalehti 9 Dec 2008