LED and CFL v Incandescent Light Bulb
The Russian parliament is introducing moves to ban the sale and production of the energy hungry Incandescent Light Bulb. To be introduced in stages starting with those bulbs with a rating over 100 watts from January 1, 2011. This will be followed in 2013 with the rating ban lowered to those over 75 watts. With a third stage in 2014 for any bulbs rated at over 25 watts.
By switching lighting to compact fluorescent lights (CLF) the energy consumption for illumination could be reduced by up to 6 fold.
The proposal is part of a measure to reduce the consumption of electrical energy and will include incentives and tax benefits for energy efficient technology projects.
Similar parliamentary drives towards energy efficiency in the filed of lighting have been introduced or proposed by other countries around the world. The European Union had introduce measures that will be completed by the year 2012 and the USA is still having a good think about it. Hong Kong has recently announced incentives, surrounded by some controversial conflicts of interest, that every household to be given a HK$100 voucher for the purchase of low energy light bulbs.
The inefficient incandescent light bulb has many supporters with as many motives, which range from health reasons to the jobs lost in production and sale. While people are employed in the making of weapons such as nuclear bombs cant the loss of their employment be justified in the continual production of these devices. The same can apply to incandescent light bulbs, switching the world over to the more efficient modern technologies of compact fluorescent lights and the new Light Emitting Diode (LED), will no doubt help reduce the consumption and often wasteful use of energy for lighting.
It is a small small step in savings compared to more hungry uses of energy but it is still a small step. With the EU, USA and Russia closing the market then maybe the production of the bulbs in other countries will become too costly to continue and a natural and voluntary switch over may take place.
For homeowners still not switched over why wait to be forced. Converting to CFC and preferably LED where appropriate will give you a reduction in your energy costs, a small reduction but a saving is a saving.
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