There will be no conventional light bulbs in Europe
28.02.2008 | Publications
Europe is being forced to think harder about energy efficiency now that it is facing constant price rises related to carbon dioxide emission and the threat of climate change.
EU member states have entered into a serious discussion about the necessity of switching to using energy saving light bulbs. For instance, the UK announced that by 2010 they will ban the use of conventional incandescent light bulbs and will totally switch to energy saving ones. The UK initiative is in advance of Europe in general as the plans of the latter are due to be implemented only by 2011.
By January 2008 British citizens will discontinue the use of 150 Watt domestic light bulbs, and a year later 100 Watt ones will follow. In three years, they will stop using all conventional incandescent light bulbs for domestic and non-specialist corporate purposes.
This initiative was based on calculations by energy suppliers and supported by the government and energy industry. It will allow Britain to both save money and to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. The German Minister of Environment, Mr. Sigmar Gabriel has suggested that Europe can't waste any more money on non-efficient incandescent light bulbs. He also stressed that discontinuing their use might save Germany "1 or 2 NPPs" in the following few years.
Indeed, there are also lots of discussions going on in Belarus about economising on energy. There is even has a State Committee on Energy Efficiency. The country consumes 34 billion MWatt annually, out of which one fifth (7.14 billion MWatt) is used by domestic housing. By 2020 consumption there is projected to rise to 12.7 Mwatt a year. However no-one seems to be calling for the abandonment of incandescent light bulbs in the home.
An expert on energy investment, Mr. Valentin Matskevich says: "Energy saving light bulbs are more expensive and for most families it is rather costly to change all the bulbs in an apartment. The government cannot help here, it doesn't have the financial resources. In reality, people who earn good salaries know how not to waste money and use energy saving light bulbs without a reminder. I really don't understand why there is no programme to encourage the use of energy saving bulbs, such advertising does not require enormous funds, unlike country's other energy saving programmes."
According to Mr. Matskevich, the energy efficiency programmes create problems for the country: "In the past, energy producers subsidised local authorities' energy efficiency activities. However, now they need this money themselves to invest in new equipment and new technologies due to the fact that Belarusian Electric power plants are already operating at 60 per cent of their maximum capacity. The country doesn't have enough money for programmes that could make the economy energy efficient in reality. In addition, double standards seem to be generally applied. For example, in many renovation plans there is an obligation to illuminate the facades of buildings, even ones lacking any obvious aesthetic value. Has anyone calculated the amount of money being wasted in this way for no good reason? Of course, energy saving light bulbs are used there, but it costs money anyway. As far as I can observe, Western Europe doesn't do that any more, they count every cent".
Incandescent light bulbs emit most of their energy as heat, only 5 per cent is converted into light. Energy saving light bulbs use 80 per cent less energy and give more light output. An energy saving light bulb costs around USD 6-10 and has one year warranty.
By Natalia Sharai
[email protected]
Saving a Nuclear Power Plant
By January 2008 British citizens will discontinue the use of 150 Watt domestic light bulbs, and a year later 100 Watt ones will follow. In three years, they will stop using all conventional incandescent light bulbs for domestic and non-specialist corporate purposes.
This initiative was based on calculations by energy suppliers and supported by the government and energy industry. It will allow Britain to both save money and to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. The German Minister of Environment, Mr. Sigmar Gabriel has suggested that Europe can't waste any more money on non-efficient incandescent light bulbs. He also stressed that discontinuing their use might save Germany "1 or 2 NPPs" in the following few years.
Indeed, there are also lots of discussions going on in Belarus about economising on energy. There is even has a State Committee on Energy Efficiency. The country consumes 34 billion MWatt annually, out of which one fifth (7.14 billion MWatt) is used by domestic housing. By 2020 consumption there is projected to rise to 12.7 Mwatt a year. However no-one seems to be calling for the abandonment of incandescent light bulbs in the home.
Why don’t we save energy?
An expert on energy investment, Mr. Valentin Matskevich says: "Energy saving light bulbs are more expensive and for most families it is rather costly to change all the bulbs in an apartment. The government cannot help here, it doesn't have the financial resources. In reality, people who earn good salaries know how not to waste money and use energy saving light bulbs without a reminder. I really don't understand why there is no programme to encourage the use of energy saving bulbs, such advertising does not require enormous funds, unlike country's other energy saving programmes."
According to Mr. Matskevich, the energy efficiency programmes create problems for the country: "In the past, energy producers subsidised local authorities' energy efficiency activities. However, now they need this money themselves to invest in new equipment and new technologies due to the fact that Belarusian Electric power plants are already operating at 60 per cent of their maximum capacity. The country doesn't have enough money for programmes that could make the economy energy efficient in reality. In addition, double standards seem to be generally applied. For example, in many renovation plans there is an obligation to illuminate the facades of buildings, even ones lacking any obvious aesthetic value. Has anyone calculated the amount of money being wasted in this way for no good reason? Of course, energy saving light bulbs are used there, but it costs money anyway. As far as I can observe, Western Europe doesn't do that any more, they count every cent".
For reference
Incandescent light bulbs emit most of their energy as heat, only 5 per cent is converted into light. Energy saving light bulbs use 80 per cent less energy and give more light output. An energy saving light bulb costs around USD 6-10 and has one year warranty.
By Natalia Sharai
[email protected]
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