Incandescent bulbs to be phased out progressively from next year
EU Member States experts of the Ecodesign Regulatory Committee have agreed that light from traditional bulbs must slowly fade away. This progressive phasing out of incandescent lights by 2012 was endorsed by EU energy ministers in October. The measure is scheduled for formal adoption by the Commission in March 2009.
12.12.2008
Major benefits for both citizens and the environment
Scrapping incandescent light bulbs will bring considerable benefits for both individual citizens and the environment. EU citizens will save about 4 times the total amount of electricity used by Danish households in 1 year: around 40 billion kWh (40 TWh). From a climate perspective the elimination of traditional light bulbs will lead to a reduction of about 15 million tons of CO2 per year.
Read more about EU energy policy here.
Myths about energy saving light bulbs must be quashed
The news from EU on the phasing out of incandescent bulbs has led to a resurgence of myths about energy saving bulbs, such as the claim that they emit UV radiation, and can cause skin cancer for example.
The Trust has collected some facts on its website concerning all these myths that surface at regular intervals.
Myths dispelled here.
More information about light sources
Danish consumers can also access detailed information about energy consumption and other properties of the 5 main sources of home lighting – incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, energy saving bulbs, fluorescent tubes and LEDs – by downloading the Trust’s publication “Lyskilder til boligen – din guide til energirigtig indretning med lys” (Light sources for the home – your guide to energy efficient lighting design).
Download the brochure ( in Danish only). The brochure is also available in Danish libraries.
Page last updated 22.12.2008