Light bulb ban proposed from March

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley is proposing to ban of traditional light bulbs on a phased basis, beginning with those of 75 watts and over from next March.

Mr Gormley launched a consultation paper on his plans yesterday and will accept submissions from the public until November 14. He said the primary objective of the proposed ban is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from electricity use.

To achieve this, he will introduce an “energy efficiency and performance standard” over a phased basis, beginning in March.

Traditional light bulbs, which are energy-inefficient, will not meet this standard, and so will no longer be available to purchase. The first phase of the ban will see light bulbs of 75 watts and over removed from the market. From March 2010, the ban will be widened to include traditional bulbs below 75 watts.

Consumers will switch to compact fluorescent light [CFL] bulbs, which use less energy than the traditional bulbs. They are already widely available.

The consultation paper acknowledges that CFL bulbs are “more expensive to purchase” but argues that they have a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs.

Legislation will be required to introduce the new energy standard and Mr Gormley expects to bring this to the Dáil before the end of the year. The legislation will make it an offence to sell or distribute bulbs that don’t meet the energy standard.

Doubt was thrown over the proposed ban earlier this year because of EU internal market rules. Concerns were raised that it would not be possible to ban the sale of a product legally available in other member states. But the department last night expressed confidence that Mr Gormley’s proposals would meet with EU approval.

Submissions can be made to [e-mail] or by post to Alex Hurley, National Climate Change Policy Section, Department of the Environment, Custom House, Dublin 1.