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Why is the incandescent lamp being banned?

The Edison lamp – what we all know as an ordinary "light bulb" – is a real power-guzzler. It consumes too much energy. Only five percent of the electricity it uses is converted to light; 95 percent is give off as heat. The EU wants to save energy and reduce climate-damaging CO₂. Withdrawing from incandescent lamp technology will contribute to that. But the environment is not the only beneficiary: the consumer will also profit – because saving energy saves money.

When will I no longer be able to buy incandescent lamps?

As of September 2009, all non-clear incandescent lamps and halogen lamps will be removed from the market. From that point on, they will be banned from sale across the EU. Apart from that, stage one of the phase out will affect all clear incandescent and conventional halogen lamps with a power rating of 100 W or more. Thereafter, the ban will be extended to incandescent lamps from 75 W upwards in 2010, to models from 60 W upwards in 2011 and finally to incandescent lamps with a rating less than 60 W in 2012.

Will I have to remove the incandescent lamps in my home in 2012?

No. Incandescent lamps still in use or kept as "spares" in private households are not affected. Only the sale of incandescent lamps will be prohibited (except for existing trade stocks).

Will I have to buy new luminaires or are there alternative lamps available?

There will be lamps on the market to fit nearly all existing luminaires. The lamp industry will offer high-performance energy-efficient lamps for all regular applications, lampholders, designs and power ratings. Even today, there is a wide range of alternatives: energy-saving lamps, halogen lamps, LEDs – including a large number of models with E14 or E27 screw base which can replace incandescent lamps in a straight swap.

What criteria formed the basis for EU decisions?

The decision for or against a lamp was based on its energy consumption and energy efficiency. Ratings have been grouped into energy efficiency classes ranging from A (low consumption) to G (high consumption), like those used to rate refrigerators and washing machines. The class to which the product conforms is shown on the energy label.

Is the EU planning to remove other lamps from the market?

Yes, halogen lamps. As of September 2016, only halogen lamps that have an Energy Efficiency Class B rating will be admissible – as well as two Class C exceptions (halogen lamps with R7s or B15 base). Between 2012 and 2016, all halogen lamps with an Energy Efficiency Class C rating will by allowed without restriction.

Reflector lamps will also be addressed in 2010 in a second domestic lighting regulation. Reflector lamps that consume too much energy will then also be affected.

Ovens, refrigerators, sewing machines – what will be used in these appliances in place of incandescent lamps?

As special-purpose lamps, these light sources are not covered by the implementing measure "Domestic Lighting, Part 1". That means that these lamps will continue to be available. However, their intended use will need to be indicated on the packaging.

Consumers will have to do without the incandescent lamp. Will they have any advantages from the withdrawal from incandescent lamp technology? After all, lamps will be even more expensive.

Consumers will benefit particularly from the lower operating cost of the more efficient light sources. Retrofitting an average apartment with energy-saving lamps in place of incandescent lamps will save 996.48 euros over the lamps' operating life (see table). That is a saving of 136.50 euros a year. The calculation is based on an electricity price of 0.18 euro/kWh. A life of 8,000 operating hours is assumed; that is 3 hours a day for 7.3 years.

The acquisition cost of efficient lamps is higher but is recouped through lower electricity costs: the payback time for the extra investment is generally one year.

 

Another advantage is that consumers are not reliant on a single technology but have a choice of various efficient lamps: they can decide whether to buy halogen lamps, energy-saving lamps or LEDs with screw base to replace incandescent lamps in a straight swap – or (in time) opt for new luminaires with designed for lamps without a screw base. One thing is certain: many people will have to give more thought to home lighting than at present.

Can energy-saving lamps create atmosphere?

Yes. The idea that they cast a cool light is a hangover from earlier days. Today's generation of energy-saving lamps are available in a warm-white light colour similar to that of incandescent lamps. This is indicated by the identifier 827: the "8" stands for good colour rendering (R_a index ≥ 80), the "27" for 2,700 Kelvin colour temperature. These lamps are also described as "soft" light sources.

But for special lighting tasks – e.g. in the home office – there are still alternatives: energy-saving lamps with neutral-white (identifier 840) and daylight-white (identifier 865) light colour. So when buying lamps, make sure you choose the right light colour!

Which efficient lamp is recommended for which application?

Energy-saving lamps can be used virtually anywhere. They are a particularly sensible choice where lighting remains in operation for relatively long periods. In stairwells or ancillary rooms where lights are switched on and off more frequently, the use of energy-saving lamps is also unproblematic: the integrated electronic ballast (EB) ensures a gentle and – depending on lamp type – non-delayed start. Energy-saving lamps are also significantly more switch resistant than in the past.

For a number of applications – for floodlighting, for example, or for a crystal chandelier – energy-saving lamps are not the first choice because they tend to emit soft and therefore low-contrast light. In both cases, halogen lamps are a better solution. Halogen lamps are also the right choice where the colour scheme of a room is dominated by reds and earthy colours. This is because such colours are rendered better by halogen light.

Why are energy-saving lamps so expensive?

Energy-saving lamps have always been more expensive than conventional incandescent lamps because the cost of their manufacture is higher. Apart from that, they have more components, including an integrated electronic ballast. The average price of an energy-saving lamp has come down in the last few years. All energy-saving lamps have an excellent price/performance ratio: simply replacing a 100 W incandescent lamp with a 20 W energy-saving lamp, for example, saves around 80 euros over the course of the lamp's life.

Does frequent switching shorten an energy-saving lamp's life?

Today, switching no longer affects the length of an energy-saving lamp's life. The present standards for "Energy Recommended" certification require more than 3,000 switching operations per 8,000 hours tested life. That is far more switching operations than are needed for normal home use. For special applications such as stairwell lighting or lighting activated by motion detectors in corridors, some manufacturers offer high-performance energy saving lamps designed for up to 500,000 switching operations and a life of 15,000 operating hours.

Do energy-saving lamps need to stay on for at least 45 minutes to compensate for the energy consumed during a switching operation?

It is not necessary to leave energy-saving lamps on for any longer than incandescent lamps. Energy-saving lamps consume only marginally more energy than incandescent lamps when they are switched on. After the first two or three seconds, they immediately operate at maximum efficiency.

Is it true that energy-saving lamps cannot be dimmed?

That is not really true any more: there are new lamps available that can be dimmed in stages by conventional dimmer switches for home use or by a standard light switch. Since they are a relatively new development, however, these products are available only on a limited scale; it is anticipated that the number of such lamps will increase in time.