On 1 September the EU starts the mandatory phase out of 100W and frosted incandescent (or old fashioned) lightbulbs. This new legislation to cut wasted energy and high electricity bills was agreed by EU Member States last December with support of the UK. The UK - says Defra - has been at the forefront of efforts to cut down energy-inefficient products.

A voluntary initiative to phase out old fashioned bulbs started in 2007. The British Government has been working with all major retailers who sell light bulbs and UK energy suppliers to phase out traditional energy guzzling bulbs, replacing them with energy efficient light bulbs such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). This is in advance of a EU-wide mandatory phase out of incandescent bulbs that begins in September 2009 and which was agreed by EU Member States in December 2008.

Environment Minister Dan Norris said: “We can no longer rely on light bulbs which waste 95 per cent of their energy as heat. We are glad the EU has put this measure in place to stop the waste of energy and money from old fashioned high energy bulbs. The UK has had a successful voluntary initiative in place for a few years, and now the rest of the EU will follow suit on a mandatory basis."

“This is great news for people who will pay less in electricity and even better news for the planet, as this will amount to 1 million tonnes of saved CO2 per year by 2020.”

Quelle: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra)

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