Lamp Manufacturers Shed Light on Future

Europe's lamp manufacturers have published details of an initiative, which, according to the companies, if adopted by the European Union, would lead to the phase-out of the least efficient lamps in the home from the European market by 2015. This would lead to a 60 percent reduction Of CO2 emissions from domestic lighting.

The initiative, backed by GE, Havells Sylvania, OSRAM, Philips and other members of the European Lamp Companies Federation, calls on the EU to apply binding minimum energy efficiency requirements, supported by strict market surveillance, for Edison and Bayonet cap lamps as early as 2009.

The companies say that the proposal by the manufacturers will allow time for a switch to high-efficiency halogen and compact fluorescent lamps and the development of LED and high-efficiency incandescent lamps. 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. Starting with highest wattage lamps (over 100W) and gradually covering lower wattages (down to 25W) by 2015 the least efficient domestic lamps (energy efficiency classes E, F and G) would no longer be available.

To ensure continued quality and cost effectiveness for Europe’s consumers, all lamps placed on the EU market, including the energy saving alternatives, would also have to have a minimum rated lifetime of 1000 hours and comply with relevant International and European safety and quality standards8. Specifications for lamps destined for special applications such as refrigerators, ovens and specialist medical equipment are also being reviewed.