Lighting – low-energy lamps and compact fluorescent tubes
Photo: Per Westergård
Lightbulbs are not energy-efficient - of the energy used, less than 10 % is visible light while the rest is heat. There is a new technology on the market which provides better light but does not use as much electricity.
Lightbulbs are being phased out of the market
In light of this, all EU countries will be phasing out lightbulbs in several stages.
In Sweden, it is estimated that the prohibition on lightbulbs will save 10% of the electricity used in households. This is a reduction of 2 terawatts (TW) hours per year, which is the equivalent to the electricity used by approximately 80,000 electrically-heated houses per year. Savings throughout the EU as a result of the prohibition are estimated at saving approximately 40 TW hours.
From the autumn of 2009, the lightbulb will be start to be phased out. This means that it is forbidden to import frosted lightbulbs and clear 100 W lightbulbs. The lightbulbs available in the shops may still be sold and used in homes until there are none left.
This is how the phase-out will take place:
- September 2009: Prohibition on all frosted lightbulbs + clear 100 W lightbulbs
- September 2010: Prohibition on clear 75 W lightbulbs
- September 2011: Prohibition on clear 60 W lightbulbs
- September 2012: Prohibition on clear 40 and clear 15 and 25 W lightbulbs
- September 2013: Stricter requirements for low-energy bulbs and LEDs
- September 2016: Stricter requirements for halogen bulbs
A guide to energy efficient lighting
Click on the document to the right for more information on energy efficient lighting of your home.
