France to phase-out inefficient lamps from 2009

Citation

(2009), "France to phase-out inefficient lamps from 2009", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 20 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2009.08320bab.002

France to phase-out inefficient lamps from 2009

Article Type: News From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 20, Issue 2

French retailers signed a voluntary agreement with the government to phase-out the most inefficient light bulbs on the market from 2009. The deal is intended to implement a goal adopted as part of a consultation process on France’s future environmental policy.

Under the agreement, three quarters of light bulbs sold by the retailers will have to be energy efficient by the end of next year. All 100-watt incandescent bulbs will be banned from June 2009, followed by 75-watt light bulbs in December. Lower wattage bulbs will be gradually phased-out between 2010 and 2012. Several other EU countries are already taking or considering measures to phase-out incandescent light bulbs. The European commission will this year propose to ban these products as part of measures on domestic lighting implementing the 2005 energy-using products (EuP) directive. EU energy ministers back a 2010 deadline. The French retailers’ initiative is expected to save eight terawatt hours of energy, according to the government. Incandescent light bulbs accounted for more than 80 per cent of total sales in France last year compared to only around 11 per cent for more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Their market share is expected to increase to 35 per cent by the end of 2010.