The European Union has approved a ban which will see traditional light bulbs phased out by 2012. The new regulations, due to start in 2009, will set minimum energy efficiency targets for bulbs which the EU claims will save the rough equivalent of the electricity consumption of Romania.
LIGHT BULBS
In most homes, lighting accounts for 10 to 15 per cent of the electricity bill.
An estimated 1.8 billion incandescent and 350 million energy-saving light bulbs were sold in the EU last year
The National Trust is now changing all 40,000 bulbs in its historic houses and property to energy efficient bulbs.
It takes four times as much energy to make a CFL as it does to make an incandescent bulb.
Just one CFL could save up to £7 a year and will last up to 10 times longer than a traditional bulb.
Over 50 million energy-saving bulbs are being used today in the UK - but that's only 10% of the total light bulbs in use
LED (Light Emitting diode) bulbs offer energy savings of 90%, contain no mercury and last for up to 50,000 hours.
It confirms a trend which has seen the dimming of the status of the incandescent bulb as more energy efficient models came onto the market.
The EU says the phased ban will give manufacturers time to adapt their production but campaigners think the regulations should be tougher. They say it will be 2016 before we see a ban on low efficiency halogen lamps, which are only 25% more efficient than the traditional bulb.
Mercury
The most common energy-efficient bulbs now in use are Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).
They use up to 80 per cent less electricity than a standard bulb for the same amount of light.
But if you think these bulbs are the saviours of the planet, think again. They may help cut carbon dioxide emissions but they are not without environmental impact.
The bulbs have a special coating inside the lamp containing mercury, needed to generate light efficiently. The typical amount is under 4 milligrams of mercury per lamp - just enough to cover the tip of a ball point pen.
How to dispose of them
Mercury is toxic so it needs to be disposed of properly. That means old bulbs should be recycled and not just thrown in the bin. It also means you should take precautions if you break a CFL at home.
The Government advice is:
• Vacate the room and ventilate it for at least 15 minutes.
• Do not use a vacuum cleaner.
• Clean up using rubber gloves and aim to avoid breathing in any dust.
• Sweep up all glass fragments and place in a plastic bag.
• Wipe the area with a damp cloth, add that to the bag and seal it.
• Don't put the bag in the bin. Take it a council amenity site or recycling centre where it can be handled as hazardous waste.
In the dark
If you weren't aware of these guidelines, it's hardly surprising. A South Today straw poll of local councils found only 6 could offer the correct advice while another 17 were in the dark.
Marked for recycling
And the bulb manufacturers aren't much better. The packaging contains the recycling logo but no written explanation about the proper disposal of old or broken bulbs.
The Lighting Association, which represents bulb manufacturers, says it’s a legal requirement across Europe to include the recycling logo and the symbol of a crossed out wheelie bin. But it say there is currently no requirement to print mercury content on the packaging. It adds the industry has established recycling schemes for CFLs.
The new EU regulations will change that. From September 2010, lamps containing mercury will have to carry a website on its packaging telling people where to get information about what to do with breakages.
Light Emitting Diodes
The CFL disposal problem is likely to diminish as they are replaced by a new generation of LED lights. LEDs are already common on Christmas trees and the first household LED substitutes for incandescent bulbs up to 100W are now on the market. They use even less energy than CFLs and contain no mercury.
"Isn't this concern about mercury a bit over the top? When I went to school (1947 to 1958) in science classes mercury was used all over the place (making a barometers, chemical experiments etc) we often played with balls of mercury, rubbing it on copper coins with our fingers to amalagmate it with the surface and make them look like silver, many of the fillings in my teeth contain mercury, no one has suggested having them removed.
Now if someone spills a tiny drop of mercury it's turned into a major incident, no doubt the companies that clean up these tiny spills make lots of money out of it."
Denis Sharp, Arundel
"What will happen to sufferers from diseases like lupus who are made ill by the new form of bulbs?"
Chris Lewis, Fareham
"They do save a huge amount of money. I started fitting them about 10 years ago, when I worked out a standard 100w bulb costed about £25 per year in a high use area. Its a lot more now. So I'm saving around £100 or more a year. You can now get these bulbs in almost every size, shape and fittings. Yes you sometimes have to change your light fitting - but thats the only drawback. People should stop whingeing. Its always excuses, excuses, excuses."
Tim Oakley, Uxbridge
"The biggest con of saving energy.. the old light bulb supplies heat so turn the heating down to conpensant... in the old days part of our heating was from the gas mantle ...what you save on elecricity you spent on your heating bill."
Rick Langford, Billingshurst
"My energy saving bulb flicked a few times then a column of dense pure white smoke reached the ceiling before I could switch it off."
Ken Dagnall, Southampton
"Did you know that if you switch an energy efficient bulb off and on again in less than an hour it uses as much energy as leaving it on for an hour? at least that applies to florescent strip lamps! its all about start up energy, yes, an hours worth of it! so if you want to economise, leave it on, say over a lunch hour, lamp may probably last longer too? I will stand corrected if this does not apply to the ones show in program? University lecturer come to my rescue...."
Guy Binsted, Midhurst
"To answer some of the questions posed. The low energy bulbs are available in virtually every combination of fitting/screw thread, and in sizes up to 400w. The fact is that most DIY stores are behind the times and only stock a very limited range. You can even buy LE bulbs that can be dimmed, both with a dimmer and even some that do not need dimmers.
Also remember that the LE bulbs are last years solution. the future is LED, which again are available in numerous colours, shades and light levels. Frankly anyone who still uses tungstun bulbs is throwing money away."
Barry, Havant
"One fact I dont think you know about low energy light bulbs....sometimes they go wrong and appear to work but radiate radio interference on vhf for up to a mile. This wipes out radio communications. OFCOM often has to get involved to identify offending bulbs to sort out problems on emergency comms channels. OFCOM has to identify the offending house once the communication user calls them in after wasting days tring to locate a faulty bulb. The house owner gets a shock when OFCOM knocks the door often with police with them! I know about this as I help in interference issues with a well known cellular radio company."
Richard Jolliffe, Newbury
"I'm gradually replacing mine but why can't I get eco-friendly candle bulbs with the small bayonet fitting rather than screw fitting? They are also available at large bayonet so why not small?"
Joy Pearce, Lancing
"Please can someone tell me what to do with my old light bulbs some are still in their packages,now Ive changed all my bulbs to the energy saving bulbs."
Veronica Rowe, Havant
"I use a considerable number of dimmers in my bungalow. Energy saving bulbs are not suitable to be used with dimmers, so it will leave me having to replace these with switches, so I will loose the ability to control the amount of light in my rooms.
Further, I have discovered that energy saving bulbs can give me a headache.
Will there be any solution to help me?"
Pete Reynolds, Tadley
"So it takes 4 times as much energy to make these energy saving light bulbs, they are potential health hazards and potentially some councils will probably not accept them as recycling so people will have to drive to the recycling stations to dispose of them and yet again we are being ordered about by the European Union!!!"
Collette, Berkshire
"Presumably the Government is not suggesting I horde hazzardous waste at home, so each time a bulb goes I now need to drive a 30min round trip to the recycling center. How is that going to save the planet?
I think all waste should be collected from houses by the council, including glass, and now light bulbs."
Paul, Southampton
"I would like to replace all the bulbs in my house with the low energy ones but have been told that they cannot be used with dimmer switches. Are there any plans to develop some that will be usable in this way?"
Gordon Smith, Wokingham
"The problem with current low energy bulbs are that they take a time to reach their full light output. I now leave the lamps on all the time during darkness so I can see properly. With the old style bulbs I used to turn them on only when I needed the light. Saving more power?"
Phil Green, Selsey
"Not only are they very environmentally unfriendly but that they pollute the Radio Frequency spectrum as well. They produce large amounts of interference which makes it difficult to hear low level signals. Radio Amateurs are well aware of this."
Tony Baker
"I contacted my LA, Bournemouth, recently to ask where I could dispose of old bulbs and batteries. I was told that the only place was at Millhams Lane, the other side of the town!! Who is going to take these small items there even if they know where it is. We do need to have better means of diposal of such products."
Arthur Tuffee, Bournemouth
"Could you please consider the effect on Halogen bulbs? Is the EEC placing a restriction on these in the new legislation – I have not heard anything about these."
Keith Paine
"Can you find out why the maximum wattage for these new types are only available up to 100 w equivalent= to about 10w? I find because of poor sight in the family we need 200w but now can not obtain bulbs to match the old types light output.
Robert Knight
"I cannot be in a room with these lght bulbs for more than a few minutes or I begin to feel very ill, I have difficulty breathing and feel dizzy and very weak, and I can pass out. I cannot go into shops, to my dentist or doctors or to church any more now these bulbs have been installed. Any area with these bulbs is now out of bounds. I can only go into buildings with spot lights or old type fluorecent tubes which do not have such a dire effect. I see myself having to order foods and goods on line and living with candles or LED bulbs. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also affect me in this way. Maybe I have to move to St.Kilder? No care is given to those of us who are affected in this way, and it is all very well saying we may be able to have an exemption but I will still be unable to go to restaurants, shops, get medical aid in health centres, etc."
Dian Mills
"Try listening to BBC Radio 4 long wave next to an energy saving lightbulb. The interference is notable. An ordinary incandecent bulb gives no interference.
Energy saving bulbs are big (and ugly)and they take time to warm up to give an adequate source of light which means you tend to leave them on permanently.
Light bulb manufacturers on the other hand have a good lobby in Brussels dont they."
Dieumegard David, Paris
