Supermarkets stock up on banned bulbs
Halogen light bulbs have been stockpiled by supermarkets ahead of an EU ban, it has emerged. It means stocks of pear and candle shaped bulbs at Britain’s biggest retailers could last beyond Christmas, industry sources said. From today, EU rules designed to limit CO2 emissions make it illegal for shops to buy non-directional halogen lamps to sell to consumers. Halogen lamps use around five times as much energy as LED bulbs and only last for around two years. LED bulbs are far more expensive to buy than halogen bulbs but can last up to 15 years.
HALOGEN light bulbs have been stockpiled by supermarkets ahead of an EU ban, it has emerged. It means stocks of pear and candle shaped bulbs at Britain’s biggest retailers could last beyond Christmas, industry sources said.
From today, EU rules designed to limit CO2 emissions and reduce its carbon footprint make it illegal for shops to buy non-directional halogen lamps to sell to consumers.
Halogen lamps are far less efficient than LED light bulbs, use around five times as much energy, and last for around two years. LED bulbs, which will eventually replace all other bulbs, are far more expensive to buy than halogen bulbs but can last up to 15 years.
The change comes two years after the EU began the first phase of its plan to ban halogen light bulbs over claims that they are wasting energy and harming the environment. It is nearly 10 years since incandescent bulbs were banned in 2009. Sources said supermarkets including Tesco had stockpiled up to six months’ worth of bulbs before the ban.
Yesterday Tesco, Morrisons and Asda all had a large selection of halogen bulbs available to buy on their websites. However, Sainsbury’s has run out of halogen bulbs online but said it still has a small number available in store at a discounted price.
A spokesman said: “In line with the legislation change, we will no longer replace the stock of halogen bulbs from September 1. There is a small number of halogen bulbs in some stores, and these have been reduced in price.”
However, some homeowners may find spotlight fittings in the ceilings of their homes are incompatible with LED lights. Signify, the maker of Philips LED lights, said: “The low wattage equivalent LEDS sometimes mean some transformers cannot detect that the light is actually switched on and therefore lights can flicker. In this case it is worth seeking advice from your electrician.”