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Gormley Outlines Position on Plan to Introduce Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for Light Bulbs

10/01/08

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley TD announced today (10 Jan. 08) he has received the European Commission's support for the Irish plans to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs from early next year. This initiative backs the Commission intentions to propose a community wide approach on minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, he was told by Vice-President Verheugen in a meeting in Brussels yesterday.  Minister Gormley met both Vice-President Verheugen and Commissioner Dimas to discuss various environmental matters.

Vice-President Günter Verheugen, who is also responsible for competitiveness and internal market issues relating to goods, also informed Minister Gormley that in light of Ireland's initiative, the Commission would be ready to accelerate its own planned regulation as much as possible.

During the meeting, Minister Gormley confirmed that Ireland would work closely with the European Commission to ensure that Ireland's new light bulb standards will be fully consistent with the solution envisaged by the European Commission.

Ireland will ensure that the European notification procedures will be followed and both Vice-President Verheugen and Minister Gormley agreed to work closely in partnership on this and other issues.

Minister Gormley said: “I welcome the full engagement and support of the European Commission on Ireland’s plans to set minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. I particularly welcome the Commission’s commitment to accelerate its own planned regulations in light of Ireland’s intervention on the issue.”

Minister Gormley also announced that a full public consultation will take place in the coming weeks and months, and the opinions and input of all relevant parties and stakeholders will be sought. Irish officials will also begin work on liasing closely with the Commission to ensure that the Irish proposals are consistent with those in the pipeline in Europe.

“There has been a lot of misinformation and scare mongering in the last week on the proposals. I want to assure people that the approach to be taken will be pragmatic, and will take into account any legitimate concerns and issues regarding the drafting of the standards. That is why the Government has allowed for a full twelve months before any standards would come into force. We are only at the beginning of this process.”

“The safe disposal of CFLs should not be a problem for any member of the public. Any retailer who sells CFLs is already legally obliged to take back waste CFLs when supplying a new one under the  (WEEE)  Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Directive.”

“My aim is to have legislation in place as soon as possible. I also intend to have a full public consultation with all relevant parties, in order to identify any problems and deal with them well in advance. As I outlined last December, this was always going to be the approach.”

He continued: “The ultimate aim of this measure is to increase energy efficiency in Irish homes and businesses by facilitating a move to energy efficient light bulbs. Ultimately it will lead to savings of more than €180 million a year for Irish consumers and reduce emissions in Ireland by 800,000 tonnes or one per cent of its total. This measure is good for the environment and good for people.”

ENDS

Questions and answers on light bulbs


1. When will the ban come into place?

It’s the intention of the Government to have legislation in place from the beginning of next year setting minimum energy efficiency standards for lighting. There will be a full consultation to ensure that the standards will be practical and pragmatic. There will also be a full public information campaign before any minimum standards come into force.


2. Will it mean I have to replace all of my light bulbs at once?

Not at all. When standards come into force, it will mean that energy inefficient lightbulbs will no longer be available on the market. It will simply mean that when a light bulb comes to the end of its life, there will be only energy efficient products available to replace them.


3. What if there is no energy efficient alternative to some of the lights in my house?

That is why there is going to be a full consultation process, in order to identify what difficulties, if any, there are with some lighting products and fittings. There is no intention to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards where there are no alternatives currently available.


4. Are some energy efficient light bulbs dangerous, as they contain hazardous materials like mercury?

Absolutely not. CFLs, which contain very small amounts of mercury, are manufactured to stringent safety standards. Lights containing mercury (fluorescent tubes) have been widespread in Ireland for more than 50 years. The Department cannot find any records or evidence of them having posed serious safety issues for the general public. Nevertheless, as CFLs are likely to become more widespread, the Department will be asking the Environmental Protection Agency to draw up guidelines for people in the unlikely event of breakage of these products.


5. What about recycling?

The Department will work closely with industry on disposal issues and will ensure that all low energy lightbulb packaging contains instructions for members of the public pertaining to their safe disposal. The bulk of energy efficient lightbulbs, including all CFLs, are covered by the WEEE directive. This means that they can be disposed of at civic amenity sites free of charge. People can also under the directive return used CFLs to any outlet that sells them.


6. What about the quality of light. I have heard that energy efficient lighting produces poorer quality lighting than traditional bulbs, and that the bulbs flicker.

That’s not the case. Good quality energy efficient lights produce the same quality light, in terms of output to incandescent lighting. Flickering used to be a problem with traditional fluorescent tubes, but that is not the case with the current generation of CFLs.


7. What about price? Will I be spending more on lighting?

You will actually be spending less.  Yes energy efficient alternatives are more expensive to buy initially, but they save money in the long run. Good quality CFL bulbs last up to five times as long as a traditional bulb, and therefore cost less. In addition, they use just one fifth of the electricity used to power an incandescent bulb.


8. What about medical conditions? I have heard that some energy efficient lighting has negative effects on people suffering from conditions such as epilepsy.

Again, this is why there will be a full consultation process, to establish if this is the case, and if any special measures are needed to cater for this.

Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie
Web site: www.environ.ie
 

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