Europe to Ban Halogen Lightbulbs
After nearly 60 years of lighting homes halogens will be replaced with more energy efficient LEDs
The Guardian
August 23, 2018
After nearly 60 years of brightening our homes and streets, halogen lightbulbs will finally be banned across Europe on 1 September.
The lights will dim gradually for halogen. Remaining stocks may still be sold, and capsules, linear and low voltage incandescents used in oven lights will be exempted. But a continent-wide switchover to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is underway that will slash emissions and energy bills, according to industry, campaigners and experts.
LEDs consume five times less energy than halogen bulbs and their phase-out will prevent more than 15m tonnes of carbon emissions a year, an amount equal to Portugal’s annual electricity usage.
Philips, the lighting manufacturer estimates consumer savings of up to £112 a year from the switchover because LEDs last much longer than halogens and use far less power.
But that has not stopped a perennial tabloid crusade against interference from Brussels – and the revival of timeworn Brexiteer campaign themes.
Jonathan Bullock, Ukip’s energy spokesman in the European parliament told the Guardian: "The EU's attempt to ban halogen bulbs is wrong because consumers will suffer financially and it’s always the poorest who suffer most from these kinds of policies.”
“Customers should have the freedom of choice in bulbs and it shouldn’t be imposed by the EU.”
However, with incandescent bans spreading from California to Canberra, any post-Brexit revival might depend on inefficient Chinese bulbs – and these could add £90 to average energy bills, studies indicate.
At present, halogen bulbs are often individually cheaper than LEDs but extrapolating cost savings from that is “a false economy” according to Stewart Muir, a product manager at the Energy Savings Trust.
Ukip’s numbers “just don’t add up,” he said. “A halogen bulb may be cheaper to buy in the first place but the electricity costs will be much more expensive, whereas an LED bulb will pay for itself within a year.”
Halogen bulbs also last for just two years on average, compared to LEDs which have a 15-20 year life expectancy, he said.
The average British home has about 10 halogen lamps and uses each lightbulb for around three hours a day, according to government figures from 2012.
The emissions cost is staggering. Buildings account for about 40% of our energy consumption – and lighting currently accounts for around 15% of that. That gives it a carbon footprint higher than aviation and shipping combined.
Eliot Whittington, the director of the Prince of Wales’s corporate leaders group, which campaigns on the issue, said: “The science is clear. We can’t allow the human costs of climate change to reach the levels they will, if we fail to act. You ban things that threaten public safety and the wasteful use of energy is dangerous for us all in the end.”
How Do You Feel About This Issue? Should the Free Market Be Allowed to Work Its Magic?
- OR -
Do You Favor Government Intervention to Make Sure You Do What's Best for the Environment?
- OR -
Do You Favor Government Intervention to Make Sure You Do What's Best for the Environment?
IRRELEVANT REMARKS WILL BE DELETED.
ReplyDelete"TATTLING," PERSONAL REMARKS, and BLOG GPSSIP are SRICTLY FORBIDDEN.
If I wanted the Government to "do good" I'd advocate that they make large unconditional contributions to religious charities...
ReplyDeleteNot MOSLEM Charities, I hope?
DeleteI think we should stick to advocating support for CHRISTIAN Charities, myself.
If only 50% went to Christian charities, that would still be 50% more good than they're doing with their current secular spending...
DeleteJames Madison 6/20/1785
DeleteWe the subscribers, citizens of the said Commonwealth, having taken into serious consideration, a Bill printed by order of the last Session of General Assembly, entitled “A Bill establishing a provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion,”1 and conceiving that the same if finally armed with the sanctions of a law, will be a dangerous abuse of power, are bound as faithful members of a free State to remonstrate against it, and to declare the reasons by which we are determined. We remonstrate against the said Bill,
1. Because we hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth, “that Religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.”2 The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men: It is unalienable also, because what is here a right towards men, is a duty towards the Creator. It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, who enters into any subordinate Association, must always do it with a reservation of his duty to the General Authority; much more must every man who becomes a member of any particular Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no mans right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance. True it is, that no other rule exists, by which any question which may divide a Society, can be ultimately determined, but the will of the majority; but it is also true that the majority may trespass on the rights of the minority.3
2. Because if Religion be exempt from the authority of the Society at large, still less can it be subject to that of the Legislative Body. The latter are but the creatures and vicegerents of the former. Their jurisdiction is both derivative and limited: it is limited with regard to the co-ordinate departments, more necessarily is it limited with regard to the constituents. The preservation of a free Government requires not merely, that the metes and bounds which separate each department of power be invariably maintained; but more especially that neither of them be suffered to overleap the great Barrier which defends the rights of the people.4 The Rulers who are guilty of such an encroachment, exceed the commission from which they derive their authority, and are Tyrants. The People who submit to it are governed by laws made neither by themselves nor by an authority derived from them, and are slaves.
I find LED's to be very reasonably priced ($2) for a standard size replacement lamp bulb. They're whiter, brighter, and last oodles longer. As our incandescent bulbs bite the dust they are replaced with LEDs.
ReplyDeleteI've been using the corkscrew fluorescents in my lamps since they first came out, and found them mostly satisfactory, but the older type bulbs are much better for chandeliers and small decorative fixtures used to provide ambient lighting.
DeleteALSO –– and here's the point I'm still hoping we might discuss –– I deeply RESENT having a basic product change like this FORCED on me by the GOVERNMENT.
IF a new product is truly GOOD, it will soon SELL ITSELF. Having it FORCED on us bu government EDICT raises hackles and stirs up resistance and resentment.
FREEDOM of CHOICE is one of the hallmarks of a Free Society. We ought to be prepared to defend it with our LIVES, if necessary.
The Government has grown so used to picking winners and losers in the economic sphere that it now feels compelled to replace the "free market" and choose them ALL.
DeleteGrab your musket, your gunpowder and your balls. Prepare to assemble in the Town Square. The REVOLUTION starts tomorrow at dawn.
DeleteWell, I can DREAM, can't I?
Delete};^)>
Franco. I did not buy an LED bulb until I decided it was to my benefit.
DeletePeople who bought them years ago for way too much money are the ones who fit your comment. And don't take this comment the wrong way, I'm just trying to clarify.
Hey buy and try one. They are not expensive anymore and provide more value.
ReplyDeleteWhen Barack Insane Obama and the Dumbocrats took over, unemployment was at 7%. Obammy promised that if we passed his stimulus package, it would never reach 8%. Instead, it went over 10%. Those are the facts - and they are indisputable.
Yes, sure, but what that could have to do with the question. of whether or not it's a good idea to allow the GOVERNMENT to FORCE citizens to buy a certain product governent FAVORS, as they FORCE another, long-established, popular product to CEASE PRODUCTION is a good idea. or not I can't imagine.
DeletePLEASE try to STICK to the TOPIC in future and avoid going off on tangents.
We are the people who buy your tickets, watch you on TV, and wear your jerseys. We anxiously wait for Sundays so we can cheer for you and marvel at your athleticism. Although we love to watch you play, we care little about your opinions until you offend us. You have the absolute right to express yourselves, but we have the absolute right to boycott you. We have tolerated your drug use and DUIs, your domestic violence, and your vulgar displays of wealth. We should be ashamed for putting our admiration of your physical skills before what is morally right. But now you have gone too far. You have insulted our flag, our country, our soldiers, our police officers, and our veterans. You are living the American dream, yet you disparage our great country. I encourage all like minded Americans to BOYCOTT the NFL.
ReplyDeleteTens of thousands are out ther rooting for Tiger Woods because of his blackness… But not one black Golf fan in sight. Then we had a black President… still not enough, now they want to sit down, or knee down, or throw up their Clenched Fist during the playing of MY National Anthem …Well, I am done with it.. And they want to call US bigots
Let them go back to the hood. And play whatever they want to. I am done with it.
As I say about singers who think a mike and face recognition equals a bully pulpit: Just Shut up and Sing. These Thugs should Shut Up, Stand Up, and Play Football... And nothing else, or do their “Schick” without me.!
Once this kneeling all started it revealed what kind of people we are idolizing. Lets fact it, Football has turned into Thugball.
National boycott of the NFL for Sunday November 12th, Veterans Day Weekend. Boycott all football telecast, all fans, all ticket holders, please...stay away from attending any games, let them play to empty stadiums. Pass this post along to all your friends and family. HONOR OUR MILITARY, some of whom come home with the American Flag draped over their coffin.
And as for Colon Crapernick., keep whining, you jerk, some of us could use that kind of money and the power and glory of being an American athlete. You’ve got enough for the rest of your life, clearly, so keep on whining about how police can’t keep your Black community from killing 90 Black brothers and sisters each weekend in Chicago and elsewhere, and keep whining about how you’re all oppressed and whatever, but do it without me.
Just remember that Boycotts work both ways. You boycott your interests, And Just Watch Us boycott ours! And just watch the ratings, and the box office tank.
And maybe then you’ll really appreciate the wonders of America.
Bottom Line! I won’t watch even one of those damn football games.... NOT ONE!
What this could have to do with the question. of whether or not it's a good idea to allow the GOVERNMENT to FORCE citizens to buy a certain product governent FAVORS, as they FORCE another, long-established, popular product to CEASE PRODUCTION is a good oidea.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry you left us, DD. I'm always interested in what you might have to stay.
DeleteI'm sorry FT, I was going to add to the comment by "For Your Information", but I changed my mind. I think that he/she said it all.
DeleteIt seems we may not have a choice. I'm not a fan of LED's, the lighting sucks and it's too dim. Halogen is way better, and brighter.
ReplyDeleteWell, Trekkie, as i explained above I DO like the new bulbs –– in my lamps –– but nowhere else. And I thin kyoU and ALL of us OUGHT to have the power to CHOOSE what WE want.
Delete