China’s Ban on the Incandescent Bulb
Posted: November 8th, 2011 | Author: Giovanni Traverso | Filed under: LIGHT AND REGULATIONS | 2 Comments »
China has announced that it will join the US and the EU in phasing out the use of incandescent light bulbs. The move is set to commence in October 2012 for bulbs of 100 watts and above, with a complete ban being introduced by October 2016. Over a billion incandescent bulbs are used annually across the country, and with the ban in place, China could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 48 million tonnes per year.
However, despite the obvious environmental benefits of such a strategy, it is not all good news. Investigations have been made into the effects of energy-saving Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) on human health and well-being, the results of which are not so positive.
Politically, governments are often so concerned with the problems of global warming and creating energy efficient environments that they fail to include other factors, in this case the well-being of their citizens. Instead of imposing a complete ban on the incandescent lightbulb as an object, we ought to think about our relationship with and our use of our light sources. Using artificial light only when required, rather than the background and supplementary lighting which is all too often unnecessary, would also enable us to increase the energy efficiency of such systems and lower carbon dioxide production, while simultaneously taking human health and well-being into account. The answer, we would suggest, is always to select the right light for the right place at the right time.
Overall, Giovanni,
Light bulbs of course don’t burn coal or release CO2.
Power plants might!
If there’s a problem – deal with the problem,
rather than to ban simple safe light bulbs that people obviously like to use.
RE China incandescent light bulb ban
Much more profits for China-made CFLs and LEDs that way =about the industrial politics behind banning simple incandescent light bulbs, with copies of documentation and references http://ceolas.net/#li1ax
Besides,
apart from product choice and safety issues,
the actual savings are not that great anyway =
less than 1% of overall energy use, and 1-2% grid electricity is saved
from banning the bulbs, as shown by USA Dept of Energy, EU statistics, and other official information
http://ceolas.net/#li171x
with alternative and much more meaningful ways to save energy in generation, distribution or consumption.
If a light bulb policy was really needed (it clearly isn’t),
then incandescent taxation gives government income (unlike bans), and a cost covered cross-subsidy of energy efficient light bulbs would both equilibrate the market (i.e. make prices more similar) and still keep choice.
Meanwhile,
on a “better” note,
Canada has just officially confirmed that they will delay the incandescent ban.
With that news, the Canadian state British Columbia’s Conservative party also say they aim to rescind the current ban in that state http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/2011/11/canada-delay-to-2014-its-official.html