Sales of halogen lightbulbs are set to be banned in the UK from September, with fluorescent lights following, under climate change plans
The UK has begun phasing out the sale of higher-energy halogen lightbulbs back in 2018 under EU-wide regulations.
The move will reportedly cut 1.26 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year and deliver consumers savings, officials have said.
Now retailers will no longer be permitted to sell most remaining halogen bulbs, such as those used as kitchen spotlights.
Legislation for the plans is to be brought forward this month by the UK government.
The plan will help to continue the shift to low-energy LED lightbulbs, which account for about two-thirds of lights that are now sold in Britain.
This comes after The federal court of Australia has found that the nation’s environment minister, Sussan Ley, has a duty of care to protect young people in Australia from the climate crisis in a judgment that is being hailed by lawyers and teenagers who had brought the case as being a world first.
It is expected to mean that LED lightbulbs will account for 85% of all of the bulbs sold by the year 2030, officials have said.
LED lights last five times longer than the traditional halogen bulbs and produce the same amount of light, all while using up to 80% less power.
To help people in the UK choose the most efficient lightbulbs, changes to the energy labels on packaging that consumers see on are being brought in, with the A+, A++ and A+++ ratings being abandoned and efficiency being graded between A-G, with only the most efficient light bulbs being given an A rating.
LED light bulbs could be incorporated into the same fluorescent light fittings as a more energy-efficient alternative, officials said.
Legislation will also be including moves to phase out high-energy fluorescent fixtures, such as strip lights commonly found within offices, with a view to bringing an end to the sale of these light fixtures from September of 2023.
The cut on carbon emissions as a result of these new rules is the equivalent of removing over half a million vehicles from the UK’s roads, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has said.
It is part of a package of measures that it says will save UK consumers money and includes the right to get their goods repaired, new energy labels, as well as higher efficiency standards for white goods, TVs and other household appliances.
This comes after the United Kingdom has recorded its hottest temperature of the year so far, with Kinloss in northern Scotland hitting highs of 24.6C (76.3F) on Monday. The Met Office has said that it had beaten the previous high, which had been set on the 30th of March, when Kew Gardens in London had reached 24.5C at its hottest.
Energy minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “We’re phasing out old inefficient halogen bulbs for good, so we can move more quickly to longer-lasting LED bulbs, meaning less waste and a brighter and cleaner future for the UK.
“By helping ensure electrical appliances use less energy but perform just as well, we’re saving households money on their bills and helping tackle climate change.”
Stephen Rouatt, chief executive of Signify UK, which owns Philips lighting, said: “Using energy-efficient LED equivalents for halogen and fluorescent lighting on an even broader scale will significantly help the UK on its journey to decarbonisation, as well as lowering the annual electricity bills for consumers.”
