Six years ago, the production of the incandescent light bulb was banned in the EU, was the Outcry huge. Now has settled the excitement. Now, the next ban from Brussels, stands in front of the door.
Here is the future: old light bulb lights shape with new LED lighting technology
Actually, the light should go out two years ago. At the time, it was for the halogen lamp but still have a period of grace. Now it’s truly over. 1. September to may, most halogen lamps are no longer produced in the EU – the last stage of the EU’s lamp regulation enters into force. The public Outcry is something similar like six years ago, when the light bulbs from the EU market disappeared?
Behind the current leak of the halogen lamp, the so-called Eco-design Directive, the EU is – as in 2012 -. It defines requirements on the energy efficiency of products. Gradually, especially those products from the market that eat a lot electricity to are so bad for the environment. In the case of the light bulb, only about five percent of the absorbed energy were converted into light – a tragedy for each of the energy balance.
The consumption of a halogen lamp is according to the EU Commission in 2015 is still five times higher than that of a LED. Since the amendment in 2009, the Ecodesign Directive in addition to products that affect energy consumption, such as shower heads or window. The power consumption of private households is reduced and power-saving are given devices to make the breakthrough.
Some mourn for her: classic light bulb
As much electricity as the whole of Portugal
Instead of the halogen energy-saving lamps and LEDs lamps are from September, mainly in the shelves. This should be saved according to the European Commission annually as much electricity as Portugal consumes in a year.
In addition to the light bulb, among other things, certain vacuum cleaners, ovens, hobs, extractor hoods and shower heads had to believe it. In this context, according to the European Commission from the market, for which there is a reasonable substitute.
In September 2016, the met from the point of view of the EU Commission and the EU member States for the affected halogen lamps. After the analysis of the lighting market and technical developments the EU Commission at that time to the conclusion that the 1. September 2016 was too early for the leak. Therefore, the grace period.
Exceptions to the ceiling
And there will still be exceptions: For plate spot lamps, such as are used in spotlights in the Ceiling, as well as for those halogen bulbs in Desk lamps or floodlights no end is yet in sight. Instead, especially the bulbs usually are affected – or candle-shaped lamps of energy class D non-directional light. Remaining stock may be sold from September, but no new bulbs will be produced.
The future belongs to instead of the LED lights. Furthermore, the experts were already at the end of the incandescent lamp in 2012, agreed. At that time, LEDs were still significantly more expensive than energy-saving or halogen lamps. Since then, prices have dropped significantly, however, the EU-Commission, from 2010 to 2017, to 75 percent.
Your time is over: halogen lamp (2. from the right) – do not: energy-saving lamp (right)
160 Euro with a lamp save
LEDs are the lamps in the purchase, although usually slightly more expensive than halogen. The more cost it has however quite fast again. According to the EU Commission, it can be a year so far. The FEDERAL government calculates that, a halogen lamp, including the cost of a daily burning period of three hours over a ten-year period at a cost of around 160 euros. In the case of a LED it are just 28 Euro. “Consumers can save a lot of money, if you fall on electricity-eating products is pure,” says FEDERAL-energy-expert Irmela Colaço.
But not only the price of LEDs has changed, but also their quality. “Just in the last two to three years, the technical possibilities of energy have developed more efficient LED lamps,” says Jürgen Waldorf from the electrical industry Association ZVEI. The color reproduction was better and there were different color temperatures. In the case of those lamps, which, for example, via an App from your Smartphone remote control, you could adjust brightness and color temperature are changed. “It is a win-win for the consumer, that he has today, energy-saving applications.”
Soon after the Eco-design Directive? Elevator (with German Chancellor Merkel)
And the lift?
The customer would have to the new possibilities, however, once you get used to. “It was also a learning curve,” says Waldorf. FEDERAL expert Colaço looks similar to this: “Many consumers have become used to it by now, and see that the LED market has developed in a way that you can find for your bulb replacement.”
The market share of LEDs is growing rapidly. In 2014, he was according to Figures of the Association for consumer research, 38 per cent, and in the past year, at nearly 61 percent. The proportion of traditional halogen lamps declined during the same period, from 16.7 to 12 percent.
As the bulb disappeared six years ago from the market, were not Mature, the Alternatives still have a long way. But the end of the bulb has pushed the technical change also, as Colaço says. The EU Commission is currently examining how it is in terms of Ecodesign. Studies such cookers, the savings potential of water, hand-dryers, high pressure washers reveal or elevators.