EU, Lightbulb Makers Announce Plans To Make More Eco-Friendly Lamps

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European lightbulb makers announced Tuesday they want to phase out the standard lightbulb within eight years and replace it with more eco-friendly lamps. The initiative was submitted to the European Commission, which is responsible for setting new so-called eco-design standards for energy efficient lighting.

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- European lightbulb makers announced Tuesday they want to phase out the standard lightbulb within eight years and replace it with more eco-friendly lamps.


"This would lead to a massive 60 percent reduction of CO2 emissions (23 megatons annually) from domestic lighting and euro7 billion (US$9.4 billion) gain for European consumers," said a statement issued by a group of European lamp manufacturers, including General Electric Co., Havells Sylvania and Royal Philips NV.


The initiative was submitted to the European Commission, which is responsible for setting new so-called eco-design standards for energy efficient lighting.


The leaders of the 27 EU nations agreed on new plans for reducing energy use and emissions in March, including phasing out the older incandescent lamps.


Andris Piebalgs, the EU's energy commissioner, welcomed the initiative, adding it showed that efficiency "is a way of combatting climate change" and of reducing energy dependency across Europe.


The EU is applying new, binding minimum energy efficiency rules for all lights used, either in the home, at work and in street lighting.


The industry group said manufacturers will have eight years to switch from production of traditional incandescent bulbs to high-efficiency halogen and compact fluorescent lamps and to develop high-efficiency incandescent bulbs.


"Under the proposal, within eight years from now, 85 percent of the total EU traditional incandescent lamp market of 2.1 billion lamps would need to meet new efficiency requirements," the group said.


It added that the highest watt lamps, those between 25W and 100W, will be phased out by 2015.


Source: Associated Press


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