Traditional Light Bulbs to Disappear
The movement of households away from the traditional incandescent light bulbs towards more efficient low energy bulbs is gathering pace. With a total ban on high energy non-directional light bulbs by 2012 being introduced by the EU, the government have announced this target will be achieved a year early in 2011.
Major retailers have announced the cessation of sales for the 150W light bulb by January of next year, and the phasing out of the 100W bulb during that same year. The government plans to phase out the 40W light bulb in 2012, and other bulbs in 2011.
Low energy lighting will bring those benefits already highlighted in one of our most popular posts. The typical household will see its energy bill reduce, but only after an unexpected and slightly painful investment in replacement low energy bulbs. In addition to household savings it is expected this change will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by five million tonnes annually.
Sounds good so far, but what grates is the inconvenience of energy saving bulbs. The delay for one of these bulbs to come to full brightness can stop you in your tracks. How many times do you enter a room and switch on the light to retrieve or rummage for an item? Repeat this action using an energy saving bulb and on entering a room the instant bright light associated with traditional bulbs is not there – instead a slow blurring light appears, as strong as a candle, then building apathetically to a brightness sufficient to navigate the room.
Low energy lighting is the way forward, and this ban on the traditional bulb has been slow in coming. We don’t realise it yet, but the incandescent light will be missed.
Of course the old ones are the foundation for the new one. One has to change accordingly, which would be advantageous. I agree with your post. Thanks for sharing.
I just bought some of those CFL bulbs and they work terrific.
They are genuinely saving me money, and they last so much longer. I like how small they are too.