Filament Light Bulb Ban Prompts Stockpiling in Europe
This just in from across the pond: According to Nordic news outlet Volcano-Iceland.org, cash-conscious Europeans are beginning to hoard cheap, inefficient filament light bulbs before the European Union bans their use in 2012.
Starting next month, the EU ban on incandescent bulbs will be 2/3 complete. The ban on 100-watt bulbs took place in September 2009, and the more popular 60 watt variety will be phased out next year. The ban comes from growing concern over the inefficiency of incandescent bulbs. Filament bulbs use only 5% of their energy as light, with the rest of their energy being emitted as heat. They also burn out much faster than fluorescent CFL or LED bulbs. The longevity of CFL and LED bulbs is another reason the EU moved to require their use. Although filament bulbs are much cheaper up front, the money that can be saved from using the more environmentally friendly fluorescent CFL or LED bulbs is considerable.
LED Flood Bulb
Europeans are buying up the filament bulbs not only because they are cheaper, but because many people don’t like the quality of light produced by CFLs or LEDs. CFL lamps usually take longer to warm up – sometimes up to ten minutes to reach full brightness – though this is a problem CFL insiders say is being fixed. Fluorescent and LED bulbs are also less effective in cold weather, which is a big concern for countries like Finland and Sweden.
While faster-starting LED bulbs and lamps are being developed, the binge buying of filament bulbs suggests that many Europeans still oppose the ban. The U.S. has a similar ban in place that will require all bulbs to be 25% to 35% more efficient by 2014.
