Despite its apparent unpopularity, the reason for the ban is plain to
see – these bulbs consume far too much energy for the earth’s eco-systems, and
replacing them with low-energy alternatives like compact fluorescent lamps
(CFLs) or LED based bulbs will cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global
warming. It really is a no-brainer: each
old-style bulb converts most of its consumed energy to heat, not light, and by
replacing just ten incandescent bulbs in one average sized residence with low
energy types can save the emission of about a quarter ton of carbon dioxide
each year at the power station.
Earlier this year, the UK government confirmed that the ban would bring
an "average annual net benefit" of £108m to the UK between 2010 and
2020 in energy savings. And the UK’s Energy Saving Trust states that fitting a
single energy-saving bulb can save on average £3 a year and that by replacing
all their traditional light bulbs householders could save £55 a year.
In taking the decision to ban incandescent bulbs, governments around
the world have been well advised by the planet’s best scientific experts, among
whom there is absolutely no disagreement.
This isn't a trivial passing 'fad', nor an assault on civil liberty
(which is claimed by die hard eco-sceptics), but a serious attempt to address
the world's climate change and pollution problems. People who insist on
stockpiling traditional bulbs, or resorting to ‘black-market’ sources, are
demonstrating gross selfishness and complete disregard for the ecological
challenges the international community is trying its best to avoid.
One sign that selfish users in the UK are determined to undermine these
global efforts is that some high street and Internet retailers appear to have
found a loophole which allows them to get around the new rules. They are
offering so-called “rough-service” incandescent bulbs, which look almost
identical to the bulbs that have now been outlawed. However, what is not being
made clear is that these bulbs are specially manufactured for industrial use,
and while they may be specially toughened to withstand the knocks and
vibrations of industrial environments, they are in most ways far inferior to
the old “domestic” types.
While some irresponsible retailers are fudging the issue and claiming
that these bulbs are suitable for domestic use, consumers should be aware that
they are clearly marked as ‘not suitable for household room illumination’ for
good reasons, and this warning should be heeded.
- · Genuine rough service lamps are built for industrial applications and so cost considerably more than domestic incandescent light bulbs used to.
- · They also cost much more to run (almost twice as much in some cases) than energy efficient replacements.
- · Because of their design, they produce a lower level of light than an equivalent household incandescent lamp.
- · Household insurance policies could well be invalidated should one or more of these lamps be used in the house.
The National Measurement Office,
the UK government agency responsible for enforcing the ban on traditional
bulbs, has specifically warned householders against buying rough-service bulbs.
An official guidance paper states:
“Whilst all the major retail outlets market
special purpose lamps very differently from those used for household
illumination, there are a growing number of websites and other forms of
distance marketing which do not make such a distinction.”
“Consumers should ensure that
they do not use special purpose/rough service lamps for household room
illumination as they are declared by the manufacturer as unsuitable for this
purpose. Consideration should be given to the terms and conditions of any
household insurance policy if such lamps are used for illuminating your house.”
The message is clear....
Caveat Emptor – Let The Buyer Beware!
