On 1st September 2009,  the production of many familiar light bulbs will cease as a result of implementation of the first stage of an EU mandatory phase out * of incandescent bulbs. The intention is that all types of lamps that do not meet specified Energy class standards, will be banned by 2016.

 

* Phasing out means that the relevant product groups may no longer be placed on the market in the European Union. This relates to initial marketing only. Stocks held by suppliers and end users are not affected and may continue to be sold and used as they are already on the market and the measures do not relate to the use of these.

Unless you live on another planet, unaffected by climate change, you will be aware that there is a commitment to reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions. One of the measures is a ban on the use of inefficient lamps in favour of a highly publicised and heavily subsidised drive by governments, through lamp manufacturers and energy suppliers, towards high efficiency types, notably compact fluorescent lamps or CFL's.

In Australia for example, where this ban has been in force for some time, many incandescent lamps are already on the list of prohibited and restricted imports and lamp smuggling has become an offence.

Unfortunately however, the consumer feedback we have been receiving on the use of these high efficiency lamps is overwhelmingly negative and we anticipate that general enforced usage of these will be extremely unpopular.

Although most of us accept the need to improve and sustain the health of the planet, there is a real possibility that this could be at some cost to our individual freedom of choice, well-being and quality of life. We can readily accept the use of high efficiency sources in commercial applications - offices, shops, public buildings and even hotels - but imposition of their use universally through legislation, with seemingly little encouragement or incentive to offer acceptable alternatives, is perhaps a step too far, too soon.

Why are we comfortable with incandescent bulbs and not so comfortable with high efficiency alternatives ?

Character of light              

Light produced by incandescence appeals to our most basic senses. It has fundamental associations with fire, first  discovered and put to use in the Early Stone Age, that are deeply rooted in the human physiology of perception. It is created as a result of converting energy, first into heat and then into the visible form, light. It has a warm and sparkling character and natural light is created in this way. 

Incandescence occurs in an incandescent bulb because the filament acts as a resistance to the flow of electric current. This resistance heats the filament to a temperature where part of the radiation falls into the visible spectrum. The majority of radiation [95%], however, is emitted in the invisible infrared part of the spectrum, experienced as heat, which is why incandescent light bulbs are inefficient.    

Light from CFL's is produced by a chemical reaction and lacks the 'natural' quality and sparkle. Even though the colour may be similar to incandescent sources, because of the diffusing nature of the glass envelope and its coating, the lighting performance can be lack lustre and the character has no 'edge' to it.

Control of Light

Many of us enjoy the ability to control the brightness of light, through dimming for example. Apart from practical and economical benefits, energy saving and increased lamp life, this control over lighting levels satisfies biological, physiological and behavioural needs.  

The body distinguishes light and dark through a part of the eye that passes this information to the pineal gland, about the size of a pea, situated deep in the brain and sometimes known as the 'third eye' or 'inner eye'. The 'third eye' is symbolic of enlightenment in Indian and Asian culture and many Hindus wear a talik between the eyebrows to represent this.The pineal gland secretes a natural hormone, melatonin, and the duration and quantity of melatonin produced directly affects the body's biological clock, daily and seasonally. Light inhibits the working of the pineal gland. Darkness increases the secretion.  As light fades, the release of melatonin increases and brings on the state of sleep, reaching a peak in the middle of the night.

In the modern world, artificial light reduces the exposure to darkness to typically eight or fewer hours per day.

Not surprising therefore that as part of a natural motivation, just as daylight fades, we like the ability to control our artificial lighting also, to reflect the quieter and softer ambience associated with the onset of evening, relaxation and preparation for sleep.

Incandescent light is easily dimmable from 100% to 0% and increases in 'warmth' as brightness reduces.

As yet, only a few CFL's are dimmable and the dimming range is not so extensive. The quality of light when dimmed tends to be less attractive and 'greyer' rather than warmer. We anticipate further developments to address these issues but doubts remain about the limits of any improvements to the dimming quality.

Are there any health issues with CFL's ?

Ultra Violet exposure

In October 2008, the Health Protection Agency issued precautionary advice regarding the use of certain types of compact fluorescent lamps in close range, for periods of an hour or more. The advice is that open [single envelope] CFL's should not be used where people are in close proximity - closer than 30cms - to the bare light bulb for over one hour per day. At these distances CFL's might be emitting higher levels of Ulra Violet [UV] light, albeit still at a level less than equivalent to being outside on a sunny summers day.  If the use of bulbs is necessary at these distances, then an encapsulated [double envelope] CFL should be used.  All CFL's are considered safe in other normal usage. Through EU legislation mandatory limits will ensure that all lamps will not emit UV light above ' safe' levels from September 2009 but concerns exist about the monitoring of imported products that may not meet these standards.

The blue light content of CFL's [and other fluorescent or cool light sources] suppresses the release of melatonin and if applied at the wrong time of day may result in sleep disorder. Furthermore, melatonin is a powerful anti-oxidant with links to the prevention of some causes of cancer. It also has been found to be effective in protecting against some brain disease and may reduce damage caused by some types of Parkinsons disease. It may also have some influence on longevity.

This type of lighting is often used to suppress night fatigue in shift workers by disrupting the natural bio-rhythm and as a possible consequence the World Health Organisation reports that night shift workers may be more prone to developing cancer because of this.

Potentially harmful and hazardous materials

Fluorescent lamps and other forms of discharge lamps contain small amounts of potentially hazardous substances. Fluorescent lamps need mercury to generate light efficiently. The mercury is used to produce ultra violet [blue] light which is changed into visible light by reacting with a special coating in the lamp. The coating is inert and poses no health risk. Although reputable lamp companies are striving to reduce the amounts of mercury to a minimum it cannot be removed completely. Also, there are concerns that not all manufacturers will be doing the same.

Refer to our FAQ section for details on safe disposal of CFL's.

Which lamps will no longer be available and when ?

From 1st September 2009 the banned list will include :-

• All frosted, pearl or opal incandescent lamps.
• All clear lamps in 'Energy Class F & G'
• This includes clear Candle shape or Round [Golf Ball] and Crown silvered lamps in this category.
• All clear lamps 100watts  [or more] or clear lamps with a light output greater than 950 lumens if lower than 'Energy Class C'.
• Linear halogen double ended lamps 100W [or higher] if below 'Energy class C'
• Halogen capsule G9, 75W [or higher] if lower than 'Energy class C'.

From 1st September 2010 -

• Phase out of all clear incandescent lamps 75watts [or more] or clear lamps with a light output greater than 725 lumens if lower than 'Energy class C' .

From 1st September 2011 -

• Phase out of all clear incandescent lamps 60watts [or more] or clear lamps with a light output greater than 450 lumens, if lower than 'Energy class C'.

From 1st September 2012 -

• Phase out of all remaining clear incandescent lamps 7watts [or more] or clear lamps with an output greater than 60 lumens, if lower than 'Energy class C'.

From 1st September 2013

• Lamps with S14, S15 and S19 will be withdrawn. These include architectural straights and 'striplights' commonly used in traditional picture lights for example.

From 1st September 2016

• Clear lamps will be required to be minimum 'Energy class B' with the exception of those with G9 bases [mains halogen capsule]  or R7s bases [mains halogen linear] . This will include phasing out of the 'Energy Saver' halogen lamps currently being offered as replacements.

How does this affect the manufacture of light products ?

The reaction to the legislation by many of the leading manufacturers of decorative lighting products in Europe is way behind the reality.

A visit to the 2009 Milan Fair highlighted the fact that a great many products are still reliant for their performance and aesthetics on the very lamps that are to be phased out in the coming weeks. The attitudes of many we spoke to ranged from denial, through disbelief to desperation, with a few exceptions.

Given the current global financial situation, the extra costs involved in changing and developing the manufacture of existing products, some of which have been around almost as long as the light bulb itself, suggest harder times ahead for some. The look and performance of a product can change dramatically if used with a lamp other than that for which it was designed and the impact on the enjoyment and satisfaction of the consumer will be affected considerably.

What are the alternatives ?

We hope that within the next few years we shall see some significant new developments in lamp technology. However, given that legislation is now being used to enforce a ban on the majority of common lamp types, it begs the question where the incentive will come from for new areas of development and where it will lead. The legislators seem unaware, ignorant or disinterested in the finer points of pleasing and comfortable lighting and lamp manufacturers appear to be putting their money on CFL's and LED's.

LED's continue to make great progress in development and many say that they are the future. However, like the CFL they have an unnatural quality, created out of some almost inexplicable phenomenon of physics and it is difficult to accept that they can ever be totally acceptable as a general everyday source of lighting without dramatic developments that will enable us to warm to their character.

It is our opinion that more resources must be found for development of incandescent light sources or new or alternative sources with the same characteristics. We must continue to question claims that the limits have been reached in incandescent technology because at the moment the alternatives on offer are unpopular and fail to tick all the boxes.

There are already some improvements in incandescent ' halogen' lamps as direct 'retrofit 'replacements, for the GLS and some decorative lamps, and these give energy savings of up to 50%. However unless the efficiency of these can be raised to Energy class B by 2016 they too will be phased out.

Despite our long involvement with lighting, we are finding that many within the industry, including lamp manufacturers, are finding that messages are not clear and are being challenged to sort out and deal with the radical changes that are about to take place - where does this leave the rest of you ?

 

 

Telephone	020 7824 8144
Email	Click here