Phase-out of incandescent light bulbs: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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The initial Europe wide ban only applied to general-purpose, non-directional incandescent bulbs, so did not affect any bulbs with reflective surfaces (e.g. [[Spotlight (theatre lighting)|spotlight]]s and [[halogen down lighter]]s) or special purpose bulbs including those used in devices such as household appliances, traffic lights, infrared lamps and [[automotive lighting]]. The sale of the most inefficient bulbs was phased out. The first types to go were non-clear (frosted) bulbs, which were taken off the market in September 2009. Also from September 2009 clear bulbs over 100 W were made of more efficient types. This limit was moved down to lower wattages, and the efficiency levels raised by the end of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/doc/committee/2008_12_08_technical_briefing_household_lamps.pdf|title=Phasing out incandescent bulbs in the EU – Technical briefing|date=8 December 2008|work=EUROPA|publisher=European Union}}</ref>

In practice, some manufacturers and retailers have found loopholes in the new rules so that some incandescent are still available, marketed as "rough-service" or "shock-resistant" bulbs for industrial use only. Such bulbs, may actually be no different to normal bulbs but labelled for special purposes are widely available in [[market (place)|market]]s and hardware stores at much lower cost than official alternatives such as CFLs.<ref name="tel">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/9498092/Retailers-avoid-ban-on-traditional-light-bulbs.html|title= Retailers avoid ban on traditional light bulbs|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=21 January 2019|date=26 August 2012|last=Malnick|first=Edward}}</ref> After bans were first introduced prices of these bulbs rose by 20–25%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euractiv.pl/gospodarka/artykul/wietlowki-energooszczdne-nieuzasadnione-podwyki-cen-002884|title=Świetlówki energooszczędne: Nieuzasadnione podwyżki cen?|language=pl, de|date=2 September 2010|access-date=8 January 2014|work=euractiv.pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108103113/http://www.euractiv.pl/gospodarka/artykul/wietlowki-energooszczdne-nieuzasadnione-podwyki-cen-002884|archive-date=8 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> A German importer simply reclassified the lamps as "mini heaters"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-heatballs-idUSTRE69E3FS20101015|date=15 October 2010|access-date=8 January 2014|title=German "heatball" wheeze outwits EU light bulb ban|work=[[Reuters]]|place=Berlin|first=Michelle|last=Martin}}</ref> branded "[[Heatball]]s", but that was banned shortly afterwards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/umwelt/article106632745/Verkauf-von-Gluehbirnen-als-Miniheizung-verboten.html|title=Gerichtsurteil: Verkauf von Glühbirnen als "Miniheizung" verboten|first=DIE|last=WELT|newspaper=Die Welt |date=19 June 2012|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>

The EU set a target of 2016 to phase out [[halogen bulbs]] with two directives EC 244/2009 and EC 1194/2012. The phase out of the first directive EC 244/2009 originally planned for September 2016 was delayed until September 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/20/eu-delays-ban-on-halogen-bulbs|title=EU delays ban on halogen bulbs|date=20 April 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|last1=Ala-Kurikka|first1=Susanna|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref> The second directive EC 1194/2012 was upheld, as part of a review of the lighting directive four criteria needed to be assessed before a phase-out could be confirmed. Issues of ‘affordability’ were under scrutiny, as well as performance, equivalence to existing models and compatibility. The EU confirmed that there was no reason to delay the ban on mains voltage directional halogen lamps, as all four of the criteria had been sufficiently met.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.eceee.org/all-news/news/news-2015/2015-09-15a|title=EC confirms: Mains-voltage directional halogen lamps to be phased out September 2016|date=15 September 2015|access-date=11 August 2016|via=eceee.org}}</ref> The directive EC 1194/2012 relates to mains voltage directional halogen lamps; many common halogen reflector lamps such as D-rated GU10 bulbs are affected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voltimum.co.uk/articles/megaman-halogen-ban-explained|title=MEGAMAN – The Halogen Ban Explained|website=Voltimum UK|date=28 July 2016 |access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref>