100W light bulbs phased out for eco-friendly alternative
- 00:02:00
- ITN
100W light bulbs phased out for eco-friendly alternative
The EU is hoping to save a million tonnes of CO2 each year by 2020, with the phasing out of old-fashioned 100W lightbulbs. Under EU rules which come into force this week, shops will only be allowed to sell currently held stocks of 100W bulbs. Manufacturing and importing the old-style ones is banned. It is expected that trading standards officers will carry out inspections to make sure shops do not break the rules. However, campaigners say the Government is putting its green credentials ahead of people's health, claiming newer eco-friendly bulbs, which will come in as replacements, can trigger migraines, exacerbate skin conditions and lead to other serious health problems. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was working closely with organisations representing the 36,000 people in the UK who have a "special health interest" and only "a small percentage" of these would need specialist bulbs. David Price, of Spectrum, an alliance of charities working with people with light-sensitive health conditions, said the Government was "disregarding" public concerns: "Health is important and it should come over anything else, but they're not looking after ours," he said. Countries across the EU start the mandatory phase-out of 100W and frosted incandescent lightbulbs in favour of energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) on Tuesday, after a voluntary phase which started in 2007. The new bulbs use up to 80 per cent less electricity than standard bulbs and could cut a home's annual energy bill by up to £37, the Energy Saving Trust said.
ITN | August 31, 2009
