Check quality of energy saving bulbs before you buy
It’s now even more important than ever to check the quality of A-rated energy saving bulbs; this is because cheaper energy saving bulbs from China will soon hit the stores. The Trust recommends that consumers should check to see whether these bulbs are on the recommended list of A-rated bulbs and always to go for the Energy Saving Label.
12.09.2008
Anti-dumping duties scrapped 18 October 2008
The cheaper A-rated bulbs will start arriving from 18 October, which is when the EU Commission removes anti-dumping duties of up to 66% which were previously imposed on imports of Chinese produced energy saving bulbs.
The Trust believes this is good news for consumers and that it will also give a big helping hand to the environment. But it is also important that consumers check the quality of A-rated bulbs, which vary enormously in quality.
Recommended A-rated bulb list – quality guaranteed
Consumers can find quality, energy efficient energy saving bulbs on the Trust’s recommend A-rated bulb list. If you go for A-rated bulbs with the Energy Saving Label you can be sure of getting good quality.
‘We are really pleased that prices of energy saving bulbs will now be lower, and we’re looking forward to an increase in the number of consumers who choose energy efficient, A-rated bulbs instead of tungsten filament bulbs. However, before you buy, it is important to check the quality of the A-rated bulbs by consulting the recommended A-rated bulb list, because there continues to be considerable variation in the quality of energy saving bulbs,’ says lighting expert Poul Erik Pedersen, Project Manager at the Trust.
Energy Saving Label as consumer guarantee
The Trust’s Energy Saving Label guarantees that bulbs are good quality. The Label ensures that A-rated energy saving bulbs meet all the requirements in terms of energy efficiency, durability and colour quality.
Customers can find the best A-rated bulbs on the recommended list of A-rated energy saving bulbs, which features a collection of the best A-rated bulbs available. A significant proportion of the bulbs on the list are, as it happens, already produced in China. In 2007, recommended A-rated bulbs on the list accounted for around 50% of the total sales of A-rated energy saving bulbs in Denmark.
250,000 tons less CO2 discharged
Apart from the cash benefits for consumers, the environment is also a big winner. If every Danish household replaced 7 conventional bulbs with energy efficient, A-rated bulbs then Danish families would, collectively, save no less than EUR 134 million per year in reduced electricity consumption. To these savings should be added the fact that an A-rated bulb lasts 6-15 times longer than a tungsten filament bulb.
The lower electricity consumption by A-rated bulbs equates to 250,000 tons less CO2 per year. The Trust estimates that an A-rated bulb currently costing EUR 5.35 will end up costing EUR 4, or possibly even less, once the anti-dumping duties are removed.
Roadblocks for A-rated bulbs cleared away
The Trust has been working on several fronts to encourage the lighting industry to promote the development, marketing and sale of A-rated energy saving bulbs and LEDs in order to minimise the sale of tungsten filament and halogen bulbs. The EU’s extension of the anti-dumping duties therefore put a temporary brake on the Trust’s efforts.
‘Luckily, consumers’ desire to reduce their electricity consumption at the same time as benefiting the environment was so great that A-rated bulbs have actually gained ground compared with conventional bulbs. The latest decision by the EU is one more roadblock out of the way,’ says Poul Erik Pedersen.
This development came about when Osram, the European producer of energy saving bulbs, withdrew its request for an extension to the anti-dumping duties.
Contrary to the EU’s own target
The anti-dumping duties on Chinese energy saving bulbs were contrary to the EU’s own target for restricting electricity consumption by replacing tungsten filament bulbs with A-rated energy saving equivalents. Calculations show that Europe could save 6.5 million tons worth of CO2 emissions if all bulbs were to be replaced in this way.
The target states that EU Member States should reduce their energy consumption by 20% before the end of 2020 and, in 2009, regulations will be laid down on the use of tungsten filament bulbs and other types of lighting in private households.
A-rated energy saving bulbs put less strain on the environment
It’s a myth that the production of A-rated energy saving bulbs costs more in energy terms than the manufacture of tungsten filament bulbs. In fact, the environmental impact of producing A-rated bulbs is less than that of conventional bulbs. An A-rated energy saving bulb actually lasts 6 times longer than a conventional bulb. This basically means that you have to produce at least 6 tungsten filament bulbs for every A-rated energy saving bulb, and thus the energy consumption used to produce 1 conventional bulb is 1.74 kWh against 1.70 kWh to produce 1 A-rated bulb.
Facts on A-rated bulbs
A-rated energy saving bulbs give 4 times as much light per watt, and last up to 15 times longer, than a conventional bulb. To qualify for the recommended list, A-rated energy saving bulbs must fulfil, amongst other requirements, the following:
The duties on Chinese energy saving bulbs were imposed in 2001 to protect European manufacturers from distorted competition from Chinese producers, who were believed to be undercutting the prices of energy saving bulbs in the EU. The anti-dumping duties were scheduled to expire in 2007 but Osram, the German manufacturer of energy saving bulbs, appealed to the EU Commission which then extended the duties for 1 year while the EU Commission investigated the matter. Today, most of our energy saving bulbs come from China. Production in the EU accounts for a maximum of 25%
The cheaper A-rated bulbs will start arriving from 18 October, which is when the EU Commission removes anti-dumping duties of up to 66% which were previously imposed on imports of Chinese produced energy saving bulbs.
The Trust believes this is good news for consumers and that it will also give a big helping hand to the environment. But it is also important that consumers check the quality of A-rated bulbs, which vary enormously in quality.
Recommended A-rated bulb list – quality guaranteed
Consumers can find quality, energy efficient energy saving bulbs on the Trust’s recommend A-rated bulb list. If you go for A-rated bulbs with the Energy Saving Label you can be sure of getting good quality.
‘We are really pleased that prices of energy saving bulbs will now be lower, and we’re looking forward to an increase in the number of consumers who choose energy efficient, A-rated bulbs instead of tungsten filament bulbs. However, before you buy, it is important to check the quality of the A-rated bulbs by consulting the recommended A-rated bulb list, because there continues to be considerable variation in the quality of energy saving bulbs,’ says lighting expert Poul Erik Pedersen, Project Manager at the Trust.
Energy Saving Label as consumer guarantee
The Trust’s Energy Saving Label guarantees that bulbs are good quality. The Label ensures that A-rated energy saving bulbs meet all the requirements in terms of energy efficiency, durability and colour quality.
Customers can find the best A-rated bulbs on the recommended list of A-rated energy saving bulbs, which features a collection of the best A-rated bulbs available. A significant proportion of the bulbs on the list are, as it happens, already produced in China. In 2007, recommended A-rated bulbs on the list accounted for around 50% of the total sales of A-rated energy saving bulbs in Denmark.
250,000 tons less CO2 discharged
Apart from the cash benefits for consumers, the environment is also a big winner. If every Danish household replaced 7 conventional bulbs with energy efficient, A-rated bulbs then Danish families would, collectively, save no less than EUR 134 million per year in reduced electricity consumption. To these savings should be added the fact that an A-rated bulb lasts 6-15 times longer than a tungsten filament bulb.
The lower electricity consumption by A-rated bulbs equates to 250,000 tons less CO2 per year. The Trust estimates that an A-rated bulb currently costing EUR 5.35 will end up costing EUR 4, or possibly even less, once the anti-dumping duties are removed.
Roadblocks for A-rated bulbs cleared away
The Trust has been working on several fronts to encourage the lighting industry to promote the development, marketing and sale of A-rated energy saving bulbs and LEDs in order to minimise the sale of tungsten filament and halogen bulbs. The EU’s extension of the anti-dumping duties therefore put a temporary brake on the Trust’s efforts.
‘Luckily, consumers’ desire to reduce their electricity consumption at the same time as benefiting the environment was so great that A-rated bulbs have actually gained ground compared with conventional bulbs. The latest decision by the EU is one more roadblock out of the way,’ says Poul Erik Pedersen.
This development came about when Osram, the European producer of energy saving bulbs, withdrew its request for an extension to the anti-dumping duties.
Contrary to the EU’s own target
The anti-dumping duties on Chinese energy saving bulbs were contrary to the EU’s own target for restricting electricity consumption by replacing tungsten filament bulbs with A-rated energy saving equivalents. Calculations show that Europe could save 6.5 million tons worth of CO2 emissions if all bulbs were to be replaced in this way.
The target states that EU Member States should reduce their energy consumption by 20% before the end of 2020 and, in 2009, regulations will be laid down on the use of tungsten filament bulbs and other types of lighting in private households.
A-rated energy saving bulbs put less strain on the environment
It’s a myth that the production of A-rated energy saving bulbs costs more in energy terms than the manufacture of tungsten filament bulbs. In fact, the environmental impact of producing A-rated bulbs is less than that of conventional bulbs. An A-rated energy saving bulb actually lasts 6 times longer than a conventional bulb. This basically means that you have to produce at least 6 tungsten filament bulbs for every A-rated energy saving bulb, and thus the energy consumption used to produce 1 conventional bulb is 1.74 kWh against 1.70 kWh to produce 1 A-rated bulb.
Facts on A-rated bulbs
A-rated energy saving bulbs give 4 times as much light per watt, and last up to 15 times longer, than a conventional bulb. To qualify for the recommended list, A-rated energy saving bulbs must fulfil, amongst other requirements, the following:
- Lifetime of 6,000 hours minimum
- Capable of being switched on and off 6,000 hours (at least as many times as the lifetime in hours)
- Good colour rendering (CRI of 80 minimum)
The duties on Chinese energy saving bulbs were imposed in 2001 to protect European manufacturers from distorted competition from Chinese producers, who were believed to be undercutting the prices of energy saving bulbs in the EU. The anti-dumping duties were scheduled to expire in 2007 but Osram, the German manufacturer of energy saving bulbs, appealed to the EU Commission which then extended the duties for 1 year while the EU Commission investigated the matter. Today, most of our energy saving bulbs come from China. Production in the EU accounts for a maximum of 25%
Page last updated 06.10.2008