EU wants end to old-style bulbs (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

A European Union report has recommended banning conventional incandescent light bulbs by 2012 to save energy and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.

Most bulbs sold in the EU are of the type pioneered by Thomas Edison in 1879.

But the report says the EU could save up to $12bn (£8bn) a year in energy bills by switching to low-energy bulbs.

The report needs the backing of the European parliament and all 27 member states to become law.

"It's very clear that this is a measure that will change the way that we consume energy," EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told journalists.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7772412.stm

Note that both halogen and CF bulbs are an improvement over classical incandescent.

Delmarva area: CF's are still available for $1 from Ace Hardware, as part of a program in cooperation with Delmarva Power, last time I checked (about two days ago).

[wuushew]

1. I can't believe the Democratic Congress is actually ahead of Europe on this

amazing

[izquierdista]

2. Defending the incandescent

I wonder how much of that "savings" in low-energy bulbs will be plowed right back into heat to make up for the lack of heat coming from the light fixtures? Since Europe is quite northerly, the need for light (the long winter nights) comes at the same time as the need for heat, which incandescent bulbs also provide. I would believe their savings calculations if I thought the lights were on while the air conditioning was trying to keep up, or if it was for outdoor lighting, but I don't think that is the majority of the time. I think their calculation is lacking in evaluating second order effects and assuming that heat put out by incandescent bulbs is a purely unwanted effect.