Brussels, 01/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - The phasing out of traditional incandescent light bulbs from the Community market, to be replaced by more energy efficient products by 2012, has begun. Inefficient traditional 100 watt light bulbs and all pearl light bulbs will now no longer be made in or imported into the EU. These traditional light bulbs, invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, will only be available until stocks run out. Households will now have the choice between long-life compact fluorescent lamps, known as energy saving light bulbs, which last between eight and 15 times longer, use four to five times less energy than incandescent light bulbs and can be virtually fully recycled, and efficient, halogen-type, incandescent light bulbs, which provide lighting quality equivalent to that of traditional bulbs while using 25-50% less energy. Within three years, the process of phasing out all traditional incandescent light bulbs will have begun: the production and import of 75 watt light bulbs will cease in 2010, the same fate awaits 60 watt bulbs in 2011, and 45 watt and 25 watt bulbs will disappear from 1 September 2012. The move away from incandescent light bulbs is part of the European policy to combat climate change, reduce green house gas emission and bring down energy bills. Shifting to low energy consumption lamps will bring energy savings of between 25% and 75%. The European Commission calculates that every household in the EU could save up to €50 per year, even taking into account the relatively higher cost of buying the energy-saving bulbs. The new regulatory arrangements adopted in mid-March to govern the phasing out of traditional incandescent light bulbs (see EUROPE 9864) will mean savings of almost 80 terawatt hours in the EU (equivalent to the electricity consumption of 23 million European households) by 2020, reductions in CO2 emissions of almost 32 million tonnes per year, and savings of more than €11 billion per year to be re-injected into the economy. Ahead of the EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines have already announced their plans to phase out traditional light bulbs. The United States, like the EU, has elected for phasing out by 2012. (E.H./transl.rt)