The phase-out has been very smooth,” said Lighting Industry Association joint chief executive Peter Hunt this week. “Concerns about poor performance of replacement bulbs have been proved wrong. The new LED replacements for halogen down lighters that have come on to the market over the past year work just as well, for example. Price is still a barrier, but that’s coming down almost daily as volume increases.”
He said that “scaremongering” about people stockpiling incandescents to beat the ban had proved to be unfounded: “There is no evidence to support this. Even so-called loopholes – the ‘rough-service’ incandescent bulbs that a few retailers are reported to still be selling – are overplayed. The law is clear: they should not be sold for household use. It says so on the packaging. Any retailer is risking a visit from government inspectors if they continue to sell them.”
Before the phase-out began in 2009, an estimated 200 million incandescent bulbs were sold each year in the UK alone. But the ban has not achieved as much of a reduction in energy use as was first hoped, said Hunt. “There is a trend now to use more and more lighting in our homes. The popularity of halogen down lighters in homes has halted the decline in energy use. This will continue until LED down lighters become the norm.”
Green groups have welcomed the final stage of the phase out. Dustin Benton of the Green Alliance said: “Whatever your view of the EU, this legislation is good news for consumers. It rewards innovative manufacturers and could cut bills by ￡158 per year. The government should ignore Eurosceptic opposition and help consumers save money by regulating for efficient products.”
He said that “scaremongering” about people stockpiling incandescents to beat the ban had proved to be unfounded: “There is no evidence to support this. Even so-called loopholes – the ‘rough-service’ incandescent bulbs that a few retailers are reported to still be selling – are overplayed. The law is clear: they should not be sold for household use. It says so on the packaging. Any retailer is risking a visit from government inspectors if they continue to sell them.”
Before the phase-out began in 2009, an estimated 200 million incandescent bulbs were sold each year in the UK alone. But the ban has not achieved as much of a reduction in energy use as was first hoped, said Hunt. “There is a trend now to use more and more lighting in our homes. The popularity of halogen down lighters in homes has halted the decline in energy use. This will continue until LED down lighters become the norm.”
Green groups have welcomed the final stage of the phase out. Dustin Benton of the Green Alliance said: “Whatever your view of the EU, this legislation is good news for consumers. It rewards innovative manufacturers and could cut bills by ￡158 per year. The government should ignore Eurosceptic opposition and help consumers save money by regulating for efficient products.”
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