New EU directive: Say goodbye to the light bulb
The European Commission has decided to prohibit the sale of particularly energy-intensive lamps for household use in a series of stages up to 2016. This is good news, not only for the environment, but also for the consumer: energy-saving lamps save money, energy and CO2. Indeed, even today, you have a broad range of OSRAM energy-saving lamps to choose from.
New EU directive: Say goodbye to the light bulb
The European Commission has decided toprohibit the sale of particularly energy-intensive lamps for householduse in a series of stages u to 2016. This is good news, not only forthe environment, but also for the consumer: energy-saving lamps savemoney, energy and CO2. Indeed, even today, you have a broadrange of OSRAM energy-saving lamps to choose from. So that you knowexactly what to expect – here are the most important changes at aglance:Products due to be prohibited over the long term
| Stage | Date | The following lamps may no longer be put into circulation |
| 1 | 1 September 2009 | Frosted lamps (apart from Energy Class A)as well as clear incandescent lamps of 80 W or above |
| 2 | 1 September 2010 | clear incandescent lamps over 65 W |
| 3 | 1 September 2011 | clear incandescent lamps over 45 W |
| 4 | 1 September 2012 | clear incandescent lamps over 7 W |
| 5 | 1 September 2013 | raising of quality requirements |
| 6 | 1 September 2016 | lamps with Energy Class C |
Incidentally, spotlamps will not be regulated until a seconddirective is drawn u at the end of 2009. This will then have to beimplemented as of September 2010.
Changes on product names and packagingIn addition the EU directive provides that the term “energy-saving"may only be applied to products with the Energy Level A. In the future,packaging for energy-saving products is to provide information verysimply on wattage, energy level, light colour etc. with the hel ofpictograms. The new directive will also lay down new minimum qualityrequirements for lamps – to the benefit of the consumer.The consequences oft he EU directive for the consumerThe new EU directive does not mean that incandescent lamps may nolonger be used in the household. It solely regulates retail sales.Anyone still using incandescent lamps at home is not obliged to replacethem from 1 September 2009 – even if this would be worthwhile.Energy-efficient products are indeed initially more expensive to buy;however in most cases they already pay off after about a year, due tothe substantially lower energy costs.These products are replacing the traditional incandescent lampPrimarily you have two product groups to choose from, which you canuse as a direct replacement for your incandescent lamp: energy-savinghalogen lamps and compact fluorescent lamps. Energy-saving halogenlamps save u to 30 percent energy, compact fluorescent lamps u to 80percent. Because energy-efficient lamps achieve the same output oflight as your former incandescent lamp, using less electricity, youshould take note of the new wattages.
| Wattage of your traditional incandescent lamp | Wattage of your new halogen lamp | Wattage of your new compact fluorescent lamp |
| 25 W | 18 W | 5 W |
| 35 W/40 W | 28 W | 7 W |
| 60 W | 42 W | 11 W |
| 75 W | 52 W | 15 W |
| 100 W | 70 W | 20 W |
| 150 W | 105 W | 30 W |
Important tips for buying a lampGood to know: energy-saving lamps are available in various lightcolours. The halogen lamps produce 1-to-1 the same light as you arefamiliar with from your incandescent lamp. Due to the way theyfunction, the modern energy-saving lamps, namely the compactfluorescent lamps, emit a slightly different light than theincandescent lam does. Therefore when you are buying the lamp, be sureto look out for the message "Light colour: warm white".
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