Beware "Rough Service" Incandescent Light Bulbs!

Most governments around the world have now taken steps to ban the import and sale of old fashioned incandescent light bulbs. Even China, where most of the manufacturing has taken place recently, has already banned some and is planning to phase them all out from October 2016. Here in the UK, there is now a ban on all traditional incandescent types over 25 Watts.

Despite its apparent unpopularity, the reason for the ban is plain to see – these bulbs consume far too much energy for the earth’s eco-systems, and replacing them with low-energy alternatives like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED based bulbs will cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global warming. It really is a no-brainer:  each old-style bulb converts most of its consumed energy to heat, not light, and by replacing just ten incandescent bulbs in one average sized residence with low energy types can save the emission of about a quarter ton of carbon dioxide each year at the power station.

Earlier this year, the UK government confirmed that the ban would bring an "average annual net benefit" of £108m to the UK between 2010 and 2020 in energy savings. And the UK’s Energy Saving Trust states that fitting a single energy-saving bulb can save on average £3 a year and that by replacing all their traditional light bulbs householders could save £55 a year.

In taking the decision to ban incandescent bulbs, governments around the world have been well advised by the planet’s best scientific experts, among whom there is absolutely no disagreement.  This isn't a trivial passing 'fad', nor an assault on civil liberty (which is claimed by die hard eco-sceptics), but a serious attempt to address the world's climate change and pollution problems. People who insist on stockpiling traditional bulbs, or resorting to ‘black-market’ sources, are demonstrating gross selfishness and complete disregard for the ecological challenges the international community is trying its best to avoid.

One sign that selfish users in the UK are determined to undermine these global efforts is that some high street and Internet retailers appear to have found a loophole which allows them to get around the new rules. They are offering so-called “rough-service” incandescent bulbs, which look almost identical to the bulbs that have now been outlawed. However, what is not being made clear is that these bulbs are specially manufactured for industrial use, and while they may be specially toughened to withstand the knocks and vibrations of industrial environments, they are in most ways far inferior to the old “domestic” types.

While some irresponsible retailers are fudging the issue and claiming that these bulbs are suitable for domestic use, consumers should be aware that they are clearly marked as ‘not suitable for household room illumination’ for good reasons, and this warning should be heeded.

•  ·         Genuine rough service lamps are built for industrial applications and so cost considerably more than domestic incandescent light bulbs used to.

• ·         They also cost much more to run (almost twice as much in some cases) than energy efficient replacements.
• ·         Because of their design, they produce a lower level of light than an equivalent household incandescent lamp.
• ·         Household insurance policies could well be invalidated should one or more of these lamps be used in the house.

The National Measurement Office, the UK government agency responsible for enforcing the ban on traditional bulbs, has specifically warned householders against buying rough-service bulbs. An official guidance paper states:

 “Whilst all the major retail outlets market special purpose lamps very differently from those used for household illumination, there are a growing number of websites and other forms of distance marketing which do not make such a distinction.”

“Consumers should ensure that they do not use special purpose/rough service lamps for household room illumination as they are declared by the manufacturer as unsuitable for this purpose. Consideration should be given to the terms and conditions of any household insurance policy if such lamps are used for illuminating your house.”

The message is clear....

Caveat Emptor – Let The Buyer Beware!