Azerbaijan, Baku, September 1 / Trend A. Badalova /
Refusal of the EU countries from the use of 100 watt bulbs by 2020 will save enough energy and money, European Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs said.
The new action will enable Europe to enter into a new era of light, Piebalgs said.
The sale and import of 100 watts bulbs is banned in EU countries from September 1. From 2010, a similar ban will be imposed on 75-watt lamp, in 2011 on a 60-watt lamps, and by September 2012 on the weakest 40 and 25-watt lamps.
It is planned that the bulbs will not be sold in the EU trading network by September 2012. The bulbs using much energy will be replaced for energy-saving ones gradually.
European commissioner said that refusal from the use of these bulbs by 2020 will save enough energy to power 11 million households each year while saving every family more than €50 on their electricity bill.
"Although this move has been welcome by many, some consumers are still uncomfortable with the idea of giving up their familiar light bulbs in favour of modern and more efficient alternatives," European commissioner said.
However, although the products might be different, they offer the same advantages and so much more.
"People can, for example, opt to use transparent improved halogen bulbs, which provides exactly the same type and quality of light as incandescent bulbs. They also come in the same shapes and appearances, and give a full light output as soon as they are switched on," Piebalgs said.
Another option would be compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). Today's CFL can produce just as much light as traditional light bulbs. Whereas incandescent light bulbs can only produce warm light, CFL can offer both cool or warm light giving people the option of choosing the effect they want for any given environment, he said.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]