(Andrew deLaski/Appliance Standards Awareness Project)
EU bans incandescent light bulbs
By Eoin O'Carroll | 10.15.08
Beginning in 2010, the light bulbs in European sockets will be doing a lot less incandescing and a lot more fluorescing.
Meeting last week in Luxembourg, European Union energy ministers agreed to ban filament light bulbs across all 27 member states. The decision comes just a few days before the EU will lift duties on energy-efficient bulbs imported from China, a move that is expected to bring down their prices.
Last year, Australia became the first country to enact an outright ban on incandescents, which will take effect in 2010. They were followed by Cuba, who apparently sent youth brigades into people’s homes to swap out the bulbs for more energy-efficient ones, and the Philippines, which announced plans to phase them out by 2010.
In the United States, the Energy Independence and Security Act, passed in June 2007 requires roughly 25 percent greater efficiency for light bulbs, phased in from 2012 through 2014. This effectively bans incandescent bulbs.
The most common types of energy-efficient bulbs, known as compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs, use between one-fifth and one-third of the power of equivalent incandescent bulbs. According to the conservation group WWF, who praised the decision, the switch will help reduce domestic energy consumption for lighting by 60 percent in the EU, equivalent to some 30 million tons of CO2 annually. (The EU emits about 4 billion tons of CO2 each year.)
But CFLs are not without their critics. Many complain that the light is harsher and more flickery than that emitted by incandescent bulbs, that they take longer to turn on, and that they don’t work well with dimmer switches.
Most troubling for green-minded consumers, the bulbs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury, a toxic substance that can escape from the bulb if it is broken. While many of the fears of broken CFLs are overblown – they do not, as one news article claims, require an environmental cleanup crew – experts advise that you open your window and let the room air out for at least 15 minutes, and then put on disposable gloves before you clean up the broken bulb.
As Popular Mechanics points out, an incandescent bulb powered by a coal-fired plant (the kind that generates half of US electricity) releases more mercury into the air than a broken CFL.
The mercury in the bulbs also presents a problem for disposal. Putting mercury into a landfill is a bad idea, as the stuff can leach into groundwater. Instead, the bulbs should be taken to a local hazardous waste disposal center.
Others are criticizing the mandates for different reasons. Blogger Mike Masnick argues that the ban could make CFL makers complacent.
Already, there’s been a big push to move people to CFLs, and that’s created a situation where the makers of CFLs have worked hard to improve the quality of the bulbs (a big complaint) as well as add in features that used to not be found in CFLs, such as dimming. It’s also pushed the makers of CFLs to find efficiencies by which they can make the bulbs cheaper. They’re doing this because they know they need to compete with incandescent bulbs — and in many cases it’s working.
Yet, banning incandescents from the market place means that the makers of CFLs now have a lot less competition. They don’t have to work as hard to make the lights better. They don’t have to work as hard to make them more efficient and cheaper. They’ve basically been given a gift that means they can slow down the process of making those bulbs that much better for the environment. That seems like a mistake.
Others, such as the New Scientist’s Debora MacKenzie, call the ban’s emissions reductions “a drop in the bucket,” pointing out that the 30 million tons of CO2 saved would be equivalent to only about half the total emissions of Sweden.
But 30 million tons is still something, and switching from filament bulbs to CFLs is a relatively painless move that will save Europeans money in the long run. And perhaps just as important, replacing the traditional bulb – an icon of the industrial era – with the curlicue fluorescent bulb signals a commitment, however symbolic, to move away from dirty 19th-century technology (a category that also includes coal plants and gasoline-powered engines) and toward a more energy-efficient future.
<< Toward a greener economy | MainComments
2. Eoin | 10.15.08
Rick, thanks for assuming that I’m a competent reporter.
You’re right: the bulb on the left is a Philips Halogen IR incandescent light bulb, which uses about 25 percent less energy to produce the same light as a regular light bulb.
I chose not to write about LEDs this time around, as they’re not quite yet viable for ordinary consumers. Based on what I’ve read, I think we’re looking at 5-7 years before they really start to compete with CFLs in terms of price and quality. But maybe you’re right that it could be sooner. I hope so, as LED technology promises far greater energy efficiency than current CFLs. And LEDs don’t contain mercury.
4. Glad We Left | 10.16.08
My ancestors left Europe to get away from this kind of obviously defective thinking.
Phillips, a Dutch company, the maker of corkscrew light bulbs, is the leading supporter of the Green movement.
Europe it too dumb to see the connection. Good pun ay!
5. Paul Seguin | 10.16.08
Let’s hope the CFL manufacturers can come up with solutions that will work better in existing decorative fixtures and specialty applications. Where I live (Ottawa, Canada) it is difficult to find CFL’s that can be mounted from a pendant or ceiling mounted light fixture (ie: “upside down” with the socket end up), difficult (I don’t want to say impossible)to find CFLs to fit smaller residential style pot lights without protruding from the fixture, and for many decorative fixtures (chandeliers, etc… A big problem that needs to be solved economically.
Also, bulb labeling needs to be improved to better indicate the intended application: “upright”, “any position”, “upside down”, “horizontal” etc..)and danger/implicattions of incorrect applications.
I recently replaced all the 14 50W incandescent floods from the pot lights in our kitchen and dining area with 13W CFL’s - they only lasted about four months, ballasts dicloured by overheating, and tubes blackened. Only later did I discover that most of the twisty CFL designs, though they fit the pots, are not available in a design that is intended to be upside dowm as in a pot. (I checked the labels on the remaining unused CFL packaging - nothing to indicate intended mounting position.) The flood light designs, which can be mounted upside down (I think! - labels are not clear on this) are too long to fit the pots and for that reason are not acceptable. Maybe it would be possible to provide hardwired ballasts for some of these specialty applications,with approriate bulb designs. (Just like the early designs of the 1990’s, when CFL design ws in it’s infancy). PS: I received a sample CFL in 1990-1991, a 13W design with removable bulb fitting into the ballast) that I only needed to replace last year (ballast wore out) - about 15 years of use, 12,000 hrs. So for the pots, back to incandescents.
Otherwise, all other incandescents in the house have been converted to CFL’s - no complaints once you get used to the slow warm up period for the lights to reach max intensity. Colour rendition is fine if you pick the right bulbs, and flicker is not noticeable after the teh bulb warms up!.
6. Rosanne Mayo | 10.16.08
No one has even considered the most important factor in this whole scenario you idiots!!!
OUR EYESIGHT!!!
From working in offices for over 30 years with flourescent lighting, my eyes were severely compromised and weakened. My eyes hurt constantly every moment I was in the office where flourescent bulbs were. I would always ask for a desk lamp with incandescent bulbs and to remove the flourescent ones from the ceiling around my desk. Sometimes they would oblige, and other times they wouldn’t. The times they did, my eyes were relieved, and the times they didn’t, I suffered severe eye problems.
The world has lost their reality! People in this world have gone LEFTIST and lost every bit of their common sense!! You are going to see much much more medical eye problems than the stupid so-called savings in energy. You are replacing one problem with a worse problem! You should be focused on fixing the problem — NOT replacing it with ANOTHER PROBLEM!!! You people are IDIOTS — IDIOTS I tell you!!! Do you understand me? Don’t you see how stupid you are? If you don’t, then you are more stupid than I even thought!
I dare you to post my comment. If you don’t, I will know just how COMMUNIST you are!!!
Rosanne Mayo
Atlanta, Georgia
7. Michael Scott | 10.16.08
Regarding CFL flicker issue:
While CFLs do not appear to have a flicker problem once they have “warmed up”, the key word is “appears”. CFLs appear to have the same problem as tube fluorescents: there is a small but notable portion of the general population (~3-5%) who are sensitive to the flicker (US, 60 hz) - see Florida schools studies, early 1990s, for general descriptions of this issue.
The difficulty is not only the flicker per se but also that it is present just below the normal level of perception. For those sensitive to fluorescent flicker, symptoms include headache, anxiety, nervous tension and a limited ability to maintain focused attention. This hasn’t been much of a problem as long as incandescent alternatives have been available; outlawing incandescents, I fear, will make it a problem.
Finally, I would like to see Paul Seguin’s comments printed on every CFL advertisement and package. They are accurate and of considerable value to those considering CFLs.
8. Alan | 10.16.08
Ignorance thy name is government.
I use CFL’s where possible. But they aren’t a be all end all. For example, my motion detection out door security lighting sucks when use with the CFL floods. I cold weather they do not come on brightly, they slowly turn on.
Maybe the government should outlaw ignorance. If they did perhaps most of them would not exist to write ignorant legislation.
9. Juli | 10.16.08
Why not let the market sort these things out? There’s a lot of talk about ‘wasted’ heat for regular lightbulbs. I live in a cold area and that heat goes to use. So, now I’ll just have to turn up the heat.
I use CFLs in certain areas of my house, but haven’t replaced all my bulbs, nor do I plan on it. Heck, even if all my bulbs were CFL, I wouldn’t support any sort of ban on regular bulbs. I believe in liberty, not tyranny.
10. Andrew | 10.16.08
This article is biased. It starts out defending CFLs by saying claims are wrong and going into defending CFLs. So much information debunking so called myths, yet no information as to why the myths even exist. Sorry, I believe in choice…the choice of lightbulbs. There will be plenty of old fashioned bulbs around far after the ban, and yes the “old” coal plants do emit generous amounts of mercury to the air. However, the article fails to mention the studies that show that same air is already there coming into your house, and venting your house to remove a mercury spill only to let more in is not really a solution. More like a sugar pill. The newer clean coal plants are rarely even sited in any of these studies, due to lack of incriminating facts.
11. paa | 10.16.08
I hate CFL’s with a passion. They are ugly as sin, and I’ve always hated fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is sickly, industrial, harsh, and sterile. No amount of “doctoring” can help this. Seeing these other countries outlawing incandescents before there is a viable alternative just makes me sick, as does our own country following a somewhat less tyrannical path. Hopefully LED’s and other technology will come up with a viable alternative before tyrants force these stupid, awful CFL’s on those of us who despise them. I’ll have to stock up on incandescents just in case, and won’t be visiting any of these countries who are forcing CFL’s on their populace anytime soon. I’m all for saving energy, but let’s do so in a responsible manner, and not try to force defective and inferior technology on people before there is a much better alternative, and still, people should be given a choice in the matter and not be forced to comply with a foolish mandate.
12. Chuck | 10.16.08
The bulbs shown are E26-base 120 volt units for use in North America. Europe uses 230/240 volt E27-base (or bayonet base) lamps for household lighting.
Replacing an infrequently-used incandescent lamp (say, in a closet) makes no sense, particularly when considered on a return-on-investment basis. And CFLs do not perform well at all in extreme temperatures–don’t attempt to replace the lamp in your kitchen oven with a CFL, for example.
CFLs that will work satisfactorily with a conventional incandescent dimmer are non-existent. As one dims a dimmer-rated CFL, the lamp begins to flicker severely. Trying to use a non-dimmer-rated CFL on a dimmed circuit will destroy the lamp.
Most CFLs are made for “base down” use–when used in overhead recessed fixtures, the life of the electronics in the base is severely shortened. I’m not at all convinced of the fire-safety of the base electronics, judging from the number of CFLs I have with brown-scorched bases.
For more commentary, see:
http://www.edn.com/blog/1470000147/post/1420034342.html??text=CFL
13. Ban CFL’s | 10.16.08
Here’s what the EPA says you should do in the event of a CFL breaking in your house.
After reading this, ask yourself if you really want to use a CFL.
Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal below. Please also read the information on this page about what never to do with a mercury spill.
Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room
Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug
Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials
If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
Disposal of Clean-up Materials
Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming
The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.
14. the real problem | 10.16.08
the real problem is everyone is paniced about global warming and no one is trying to systematicaly and sceintificaly prove it. Its been fun while it lasted, but this is getting serious and some sceintists have to stand up and either say yes or NO. If somebody can make a movie maybe arguing against global warming that would do us good. In any case we need help against the tthreat of the myth of global warming so its time to stop this nonsense ok. My room mate trys to make me boil at night because he thinks using the air conditioner contributes to global warming. Because of this he will sometimes run into my room and turn my fan off when Im not in the room. I think we should be far more concerned about the population crisis we will face 700 years from now than this silly global warming stuff. I looked at the ice caps, and they are melting AND refreezing.
15. fishydude | 10.16.08
Cheap incandescent bulbs are the only reason CFL prices are as “low” as they are.
This a conspiracy to keep the poor in the dark.
When CFL demands jumps over night, CFL prices will go through the roof. Black market dealers will be selling IBs for 5x their current price but still 1/10th the price one will pay for CFLs. And then there will a whole new police form assign to make sure we do not improperly dispose of mercury containing CFLs.
Expect to pay over $10 for a single bulb. Plus a $10 per bulb hazardous waste tax.
16. Greg | 10.17.08
Even at $10/bulb - which will not happen b/c there is now too much competition in the CFL marketplace - the bulbs would still be a net saver of energy cost over bulb cost.
Also there will be no hazardous waste tax b/c one there is recycling of CFLs (go to your local Ikea) and two: “As Popular Mechanics points out, an incandescent bulb powered by a coal-fired plant (the kind that generates half of US electricity) releases more mercury into the air than a broken CFL.”
17. Green | 10.17.08
Andrew, who’s biased? THE COMMENTS!!!!
This is such a good thing. Don’t you realize that this will save a lot of emmissions. Of course you don’t. Why? Anti-greens have taken over the blog.
18. Disposal Question, Plus | 10.20.08
Disposal Question: How many broken light bulbs have you ever dealt with? In my life, maybe one…I don’t even remember. There are CFL recycle facilities popping up everywhere…seems like it’s a non-issue now - just don’t let folks throw them into landfills. We deal with those types of things these days anyway; no paint, no oil, etc. in trash; I think people can handle it, right?
Plus: There’s no myth of global warming - human-created carbon emissions (plus other gases) have altered climate conditions world-wide at a far greater pace than ever before on Earth. Population and climate are inter-related issues (mentioned above by “the real problem”) and effective solutions will address both, and other, issues such as education, overcrowding of landfills, overfishing, global consumption inequalities, etc. THE REAL PROBLEM lies in ALL of those things, and we are facing them NOW and should be worried about them NOW and not 700 years…we’re all on the same team and everything we do on Earth is interconnected - when humans start to realize that and work together to solve issues is up to us.
Do something. Yes, you - do something to help today - each person can help.
19. Oregon guy | 10.20.08
Forgetting all the arguments of how green these CFLs are and how much mercury is spewed out by power plants, one simple market fact remains. I have tried many CFLs as replacements for incandescent bulbs in my home. In the last four years, NONE have lasted as long as my old fashioned light bulbs. In view of the additional purchase cost of CFLs, huge improvements need to be made before the market place will accept them as readily as some would wish. Let’s put the same level of research funding into commercializing LEDs, a truly significant improvement.
20. emilia | 10.20.08
What a good article and interesting comments. Leds are important for the future but let’s start with the basics: saving energy. I’m a European, and have been switching to CFL’s where and whenever possible (and my Xmas lights are leds!). Gone are the days when there was only one model in three sizes. Currently in Europe you can get energy-saving lamps in all shades, shapes and sizes - basically for any purpose in your home. You can even direct them down (and they heat up less than the incandescent ones so they are safer to use). There is a true range of choice and freedom!
I came to the US to live here for two months - and I was shocked. It was not just the lack of insulation in my furnished Chicago apartment but the number of incandescent light bulbs. There are four large incandescent bulbs in my bathroom, four x 65W in the kitchen, and the room of the studio flat is lit up only by light bulbs. I was hoping not having to use much lighting, but it’s a pretty dark flat and it’s autumn… As my bills are included I don’t need to worry about the cost: all I worry is the environment, where considerable savings could be made with little effort and investment. It would be vital, as half of US energy is by coal (this was a surprise to me!). I hope the recession would at least make people save where they can: energy consumption. Changing light bulbs is so easy, and you get your many back in more than one way.
21. Mike Jefferis | 10.29.08
It would seem that some people want to take the Patrick Henry “Give me liberty or give me death” approach whenever their freedom to consume is trimmed ever so slightly. Please spare us. Freedom to consume what ever we want is illusory in the first place. (You can only consume what some other entity decides to sell you.) The liberty to consume pales in comparison with the liberty to produce thought, speech, and action.
22. Jimmy Cracker | 11.11.08
well we won’t have to worry about the mercury producing plants anymore, so that point is moot. Soon to be prez Obama even said it himself, **** bankrupt them through means of extraneous taxes.
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1. RickR | 10.15.08
Curious,
The bulb on the left is a halogen, that happens to meet the USA standards for 2014.
Also CFLs are in a race for their life against LEDs. in 1-5 years LED replacements will be better than CFLs.
Funny how a competent reporter could miss such large facts.