Brexiteers will be incandescent. The EU is to impose one of its last bans on consumers – putting an end to the sale of halogen bulbs and forcing a switch to LED replacements. The Europe-wide ban will start on September 1 when the final phase of EU energy rules take effect. It means that globe and candle-shaped halogen bulbs can no longer be produced or imported. A similar ban already applies to halogen spotlight bulbs. The next few weeks could see a shopping stampede as consumers try to build up stocks of halogens – widely perceived to be brighter, more cheery and cheaper to run than the electronic LED bulbs. Industry experts say this would be a mistake. “There are always those who hold dear what they know and are resistant to change,” said Peter Hunt of the Lighting Industry Association. “But consumers should bewar e that halogen lamps are very expensive in energy consumption.” Mauro Anastasio of the European Environmental Bureau, which lobbied for the change, said the price of LED bulbs had fallen to the level of halogens – and they cost less to run: “We compared a halogen lamp with an LED and found halogen is 6.3 times more expensive.” Manufacturers are bracing themselves for a last-minute stampede. Sönke Moosmann of Ledvance, the German-based company behind the Osram brand, said: “We have had surges, as with incandescent lamps, prior to a ban. But LEDs use 85% less energy and last up to 15 times longer. Consumers will save.”
Sunday Times 19th Aug 2018 read more »
