Energy Commission responds to EFAy concerns
The EFAy has received a response from the European Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, to their letter on the banning of incandescent light bulbs throughout Europe.
Last July the EFAy wrote to the Commissioner asking him to support the agreement made by the EU in March this year for a blanket ban on incandescent bulbs throughout the bloc. The EFAy also raised the point that the suggested 2015 deadline for a ban was too far away and that a shorter deadline was needed if Carbon Dioxide emissions were to be substantially reduced.
Commissioner Andris Piebalgs stated that "consultants carrying out the preparatory study on domestic lighting have just started their work, which can be followed up on their website www.eup4light.net." The Commissioner also highlighted that the study will examine the "entire life cycle of lamps through all their significant environmental aspects", including, as the EFAy were happy to hear, the "mercury content at the end of life".
The full text of Commissioner Piebalgs letter can be found below:
Dear Mr Tal-e-bot
I am happy to see the call of the European Free Alliance Youth to introduce an EU wide ban on incandescent light bulbs.
As requested by the European Council of March 2007, we are preparing measures to ensure avoiding the waste of energy through inefficient household lighting.
Policy measures shall be preceded by an extensive technical-economical-environmental study examining the entire life cycle of lamps through all their significant environmental aspects (for example not just energy efficiency in the use phase, but also mercury content at the end of life).
Stakeholder comments are welcome all through the preparatory process leading to the adoption of measures. The consultants carrying out the preparatory study on domestic lighting have just started their work, which can be followed up on their website www.eup4light.net.
Following the final report, the envisaged measures will be discussed with stakeholders and Member States, and their impact will be assessed before they enter the final stage of adoption. The process can be followed on our dedicated webpage http://ec.europa/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm
I hope this information is helpful. Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm for the causer of energy efficiency in the EU.
Yours sincerely
Andris Piebalgs
Member of the European Commission
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