For more than 100 years, the incandescent lamp has been used in dwellings as the main source of light but, as these lamps are extremely inefficient, they are now being phased out. As world leaders are committed to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by curtailing energy consumption, incandescent lamps will be gradually replaced by suitable energy efficient lamps. This article looks at the UK's energy obligations and the energy efficiency of lamps.
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was endorsed by 186 countries in September 2008. The treaty is legally binding which commits industrialised countries to reduce their "collective" greenhouse gas emissions to 5.4% below 1990 levels by 2012.
There is slight flexibility within the agreement whereby, for example, a high polluting country struggling to meet targets could finance a carbon-reducing project in another country to offset their own carbon production.
The European Union
The European Union (EU) currently consists of 27 member states (the four countries of the UK and Northern Ireland count as one member-state). It is estimated that lighting accounts for 20%
of a member state's energy usage, therefore, extensive work has gone in to developing and introducing directives which will reduce and control the energy consumption of lighting for commercial and residential/domestic applications. The EU has effectively agreed that inefficient lamps will be phased out gradually from the EU market starting in September 2009 and finishing in September 2012.
Energy Efficiency Label
The Energy Labelling Directive, (EEL) 98/11/EC & Eco-Label 2002/747/EC, acknowledges the growing energy consumption of household appliances, it shows the actual energy consumption of appliances and sets minimum standards for household appliances. By law, the EU Energy Label must be displayed on all new household products of the following types displayed for sale or hire:
- refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezer combinations
- washing machines
- electric tumble dryers
- combined washer-dryers
- dishwashers
- lamps
- electric ovens
- air conditioning equipment
To view the full article (including Tables) from the IET's Wiring Matters Autumn 2009, click on the attachment below...